On Tuesday, Gov. Janet Mills (D-Maine) announced the recipients of $2.9 million in Domestic Trade Grants for Maine businesses intended to help increase their sales across the country, with grants strongly favoring companies that produce “sustainable” expensive artisan products.
These grants include funds for a company that sells $40 6.5oz cans of eel, another that sells scallops for $60 per pound, and one company that sells nothing but pickled blueberries.
“These investments will help Maine producers of everything from soap to surfboards effectively market their products, create jobs, and strengthen the Maine economy,” said Gov. Mills.
The program, which is primarily intended to expand the customer base of local Maine businesses, also granted $100,000 in taxpayer funding to the Maine State Chamber of Commerce for a “multicultural seafood promotion” in Lowell Massachusetts.
Another $100,000 was granted to Maine and Co., a consulting firm that specializes in working with companies in the aquaculture and forestry businesses. Of note, Maine and Co has a picture of its employees posing with Mills on its homepage, however, the extent of the company’s prior relations with Mills is unclear.
Other businesses include Kennebec River Biosciences, which vaccinates fish, Grain Surfboards, which sells “sustainable” surfboards, and the Blue Ox Malthouse, which proudly promotes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs.
Not all of the businesses sell sustainable artisan products targeted at wealthy customers, or promote DEI.
A few sell products for average Mainers, including wood pellets, local farm products, and construction supplies, although these businesses largely took a back seat to businesses with products aimed at upper-class customers, or intended to promote Mills’ climate agenda.
One company, Maine Community Power, which is primarily dedicated to solar power, received $98,000 from the program.
Earlier this year, in February, Mills granted over $3 million to 40 businesses as part of the same program.
It is all my money, But I have no more to give Joe
Driving to NH were taxes you will not get
Sad that businesses cannot survive without free money/taxpayer. How did those free cars work out that Mills gave to poor working people? Never heard anything so I figure like most democrat picking winners and losers it was another loser.
Govt has no business showing favors to private companies. Especially with our money.
Especially dumb businesses that will never provide good paying jobs so people stay here.
Democrats have no business sense.
Is this ALL Maine taxpayer money ? Not made clear in the article. Sounds like Feds are chipping in as well. Not that it makes it right. Far from it.
The Mills administration buying more votes. I thought that was illegal.
Do not understand does Mills have this kind of power to choose where the people’s money goes.
I reject the wording of the header of this article. This is in fact buying off big supporters to keep their businesses afloat. The products are expensive so they are obviously trying to take money from the rich. In fact it is the middle class whose taxes are funding these programs.
Isn’t it odd how the (R)s propose refund checks to everyone while the (D)s target the gifts to friends (and maybe relatives). Although the wolf here is in grant clothing, in reality it lies salivating over future campaign support. I mean really – $40 cans of eels? That just not what I see at Bean Suppers and church fairs.
I’m applying in the next round. Homeowners are definitely going to need new big blue tarps to repairs their roofs soon with all this heat. I figure with a subsidy, I can get $250 for a 10′ x 10′ tarp with this program. BTW – there’s a sale on sour grapes this month.
“grants to handpicked businesses”… got it.
She has lied to us all. As a leading Democrat along with King, Pingree, and Jarrid lied to us all. They all were part of the cover up. Not truth full to the voters. Well King, Jarrid, and Pingree or any Democrat will get my vote.
I think it’s time to vote republican let’s get the democrats out of office
It is completely laughable that you people think you can vote your way out of this , It only gets worse until YOU have had enough !
It’s way past time to vote Republican! I saw the handwriting on the wall years ago, haven’t voted for a Democrat since 1976, all they do is dream up ways to tax hardworking Mainers! No joke man!