The Maine Technology Institute has approved awards totaling more than $24 million to five growing companies.
The awards are financed through a $45 million bond approved by voters last June, according to a statement from MTI.
The amounts and recipients are:
n $12.5 million to The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor. The nonprofit research center will combine the grant with a $47.5 million match to complete the second phase of a new state-of-the-art research mouse production facility in Ellsworth. Its new systems are expected to significantly increase production safety and efficiency, and enhance product quality. The total cost of the second phase of the project is $60 million.
n $9 million to Vets First Choice of Portland. The company provides technology-enabled health services for pets through a network of participating veterinarians. The company is planning a new corporate headquarters on the city’s peninsula. The project’s total cost is $20 million.
n $2.6 million to C&L Aerospace Holdings of Bangor. The company refurbishes aircraft and aviation parts. It intends to use the money to expand by purchasing equipment to support increased engineering and production efforts. The project’s total cost is $5.7 million.
n $178,000 to Hyperlite Mountain Gear of Biddeford. The company, which makes ultra-light outdoor equipment, plans to use the money to automate some of its production line to enhance its market competitiveness. The total cost of the project is $355,000.
n $150,000 to Good To-Go LLC of Kittery. The company has been manufacturing gourmet dehydrated meals since 2014. It plans to use the money to improve its packaging room and install a semi-automated filler/bagging machine that will increase packaging capacity by 300 percent. The project’s total cost is $300,000.
The grants come from the Maine Technology Asset Fund, which is a state-approved bond fund to be used for infrastructure, equipment and technology upgrades that enable organizations to gain and hold market share, increase revenues and support employment.
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