Federal Cooperative Agreement Award Summary

The Office of the Secretary of Defense awarded Eastern Maine Development Corporation a Cooperative Agreement valued at $1,392,551.61 under the Procurement Technical Assistance For Business Firms program (CFDA 12.002) to establish and maintain an APEX Accelerator center serving Maine. The award, issued May 1, 2026, with a completion date of April 30, 2027, funds the delivery of free procurement technical assistance services to business entities throughout the region, including newly established enterprises. The APEX Accelerator will provide comprehensive counseling, training, and technical guidance to help businesses navigate federal, state, and local government procurement processes, identify contracting opportunities, and develop competitive proposals for government contracts.

As a regional nonprofit economic development organization, Eastern Maine Development Corporation will leverage this funding to strengthen domestic supply chain participation by enabling diverse businesses of all sizes to successfully pursue government contracting opportunities. The center's services are designed to support businesses across Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, and eastern Waldo counties, with a particular focus on underserved and newly started enterprises seeking to participate in government contracting at all levels.