MAINE CENTER FOR ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT

As filed

Subsection

03

NTEE code

Z99

Classification

1000

Street

PO BOX 8628

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

• MARKETSHARE IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE MCE PROGRAM, WITH 2024 EXPENSES TOTALING $332,597 AND 41 CLIENT COMPANIES ENROLLED. A PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR MATURE MAINE-BASED FOOD AND BEVERAGE COMPANIES LOOKING TO AGGRESSIVELY EXPAND DISTRIBUTION REGIONALLY AND NATIONALLY, MCE ENGAGES A TEAM OF SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS TO WORK WITH EACH COMPANY TO PERFORM MARKETING ASSESSMENTS AND IDENTIFY GROWTH PLANS. MEMBER COMPANIES HAD REGULAR MONTHLY TO BI-MONTHLY WORKING AND TRACKING MEETINGS WITH THE PROGRAM MANAGER AND THE MCE MENTOR CONSULTANTS. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE FOCUS OF CLIENT MEMBER MEETINGS IS MARKET DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGY. TEN COMPANY-SPECIFIC CATEGORY REPORTS WERE PURCHASED AND ANALYZED TO IDENTIFY NEW SALES OPPORTUNITIES, MANY LEADING TO WINS OF NEW ACCOUNTS OR ADDITIONAL ITEMS ADDED TO EXISTING ACCOUNTS. OTHER FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY RESOURCES WERE ALSO PURCHASED, COMPILED, AND UTILIZED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. MARKETSHARE MEMBER COMPANIES ALSO PARTICIPATED IN QUARTERLY WORKSHOPS, THE FOOD PRODUCER SOCIAL, THE SEAFOOD SHOWCASE, AND THE MENTOR HAPPY HOURS IN CONJUNCTION WITH MCE'S CULTIVATOR PROGRAM. MARKETSHARE IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE CREATED 78 NEW JOBS IN MAINE IN 2024.

  Expenses $332,597

• AT $228,499 IN EXPENSES AND 14 CLIENT COMPANIES PARTAKING, THE CULTIVATOR PROGRAM WAS THE SECOND MOST EXPENSIVE INITIATIVE FOR MCE IN 2024. IN THIS PROGRAM, EACH MEMBER COMPANY IS ASSIGNED A PERSONAL ASSESSMENT TEAM COMPRISED OF THREE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN MARKETING & SALES, FINANCE, AND OPERATIONS. THE PROGRAM BEGINS WITH AN INITIAL MEETING IN WHICH THE TEAM AND COMPANY COME TOGETHER TO ASSESS THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS. COLLABORATIVELY, THEY WORK TO IDENTIFY GAPS AND NEEDS THE COMPANY HAS THAT ARE PREVENTING THEM FROM SCALING UP TO THE NEXT LEVEL. BASED ON ASSESSMENT RESULTS, THEY CREATE AN AGREED-UPON ACTION PLAN AND ONGOING MILESTONE TRACKING RUBRIC TO ENSURE COMPANY ACCOUNTABILITY FOR DELIVERABLES. ALSO, MCE MATCHES EACH COMPANY WITH APPROPRIATE VOLUNTEER MENTORS FROM MCE'S MAINE MENTOR NETWORK (MMN) TO ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS. COMPANIES MEET BI-WEEKLY WITH MCE'S PROGRAM MANAGER THROUGHOUT THE NEXT 12 MONTHS TO WORK ON THE ACTION PLAN AND TRACK THE MEASURES THE COMPANY TAKES DURING THAT TIME. EACH COMPANY ALSO RECONNECTS WITH THE ENTIRE ASSESSMENT QUARTERLY TO REVIEW THE COMPANY'S EFFORTS OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS. COMPANIES WILL ALSO ATTEND INDUSTRY-FOCUSED WORKSHOPS AND LEARNING EVENTS TAILORED TO THEIR NEEDS AND INTERESTS. PARTICIPANTS ALSO RECEIVE INCREASED EXPOSURE TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THROUGH PROGRAM MARKETING, NETWORK EVENTS, AND THE ANNUAL FOOD PRODUCER SOCIAL FOR PAST AND PRESENT CULTIVATOR COMPANIES, PROVIDING ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR MAINE'S FOOD AND BEVERAGE COMPANIES TO CONNECT, SHARE, AND PARTNER. IN ADDITION, PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ALSO GET TO SHOWCASE THEIR BUSINESS TO AN AUDIENCE OF POTENTIAL INVESTORS, BUSINESS LEADERS, AND JOURNALISTS AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM IN THE BIYEARLY FOOD PRODUCER'S SHOWCASE. CULTIVATOR IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE CREATED 28 NEW JOBS IN MAINE IN 2024.

  Expenses $228,499

• THE FOODTECH MAINE PROGRAM COST $151,664 MAKING IT THE THIRD MOST EXPENSIVE MCE INITIATIVE IN 2024. THIS MCE BUSINESS ACCELERATOR FOCUSED ON DRIVING GROWTH AND INNOVATION IN MAINE'S FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND AQUACULTURE ECOSYSTEM. FOODTECH MAINE LEVERAGES TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND QUALITY IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY AND ENHANCE FOOD AND BEVERAGE PRODUCTS TASTE AND NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS. IT ALSO CONNECTS AND FOSTERS COLLABORATION AMONG EARLY-STAGE AND MID-SIZED COMPANIES INNOVATING AND DEVELOPING AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY SERVICES OR PRODUCTS TO COMMERCIALIZE AND SCALE THEIR BUSINESS AND GROW THIS INDUSTRY IN MAINE. MAINE'S LONG HISTORY AS A CENTER FOR HIGH-QUALITY FOOD AND BEVERAGE PRODUCTION AND INNOVATION HAS POSITIONED THE STATE TO PLAY A MORE PROMINENT ROLE IN THIS FAST-GROWING NICHE INDUSTRY. SIX COMPANIES PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM IN 2024, MCE LOOKS TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM INTO 2025.

  Expenses $151,644

• MCE'S LONGEST-RUNNING PROGRAM, TOP GUN, WAS THE FOURTH MOST EXPENSIVE PROGRAM IN 2024 AT $136,439. TOP GUN ASSISTED OVER 36 STARTUPS IN FIVE DIFFERENT MAINE REGIONS: PORTLAND, LEWISTON-AUBURN, HOULTON/MACHIAS, ELLSWORTH, AND WATERVILLE. THE COMPANIES WERE FROM VARIOUS INDUSTRIES RANGING FROM BIOSCIENCE AND BIOTECH TO FOOD AND BEVERAGE, TECHNOLOGY, OUTDOOR GOODS, AND OTHER HEALTHCARE-BASED SERVICES. DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR ENTREPRENEURS WANTING TO GROW THEIR BUSINESSES AND ACHIEVE LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE SUCCESS. THE TOP GUN PROGRAM CULMINATES IN THE MAINE ENTREPRENEUR SUMMIT (MES), DURING WHICH OVER 250 MAINE-BASED BUSINESSES, LEADERS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND ENTREPRENEURS GATHER TO ATTEND BUSINESS-RELATED WORKSHOPS AND EXPLORE THE TRADE SHOW FEATURING TOP GUN ATTENDEES' PRODUCTS. ALSO AT MES IS THE STATEWIDE PITCH CONTEST WHERE THE TOP ATTENDEES FROM THAT YEAR'S COHORT EACH PITCH THEIR COMPANY TO A PANEL OF JUDGES. THE WINNING TEAM RECEIVES A CASH PRIZE OF $25,000.

  Expenses $136,439 · Grants $30,500 · Revenue $15,000

• THE MAINE BIOSCIENCE CLUSTER INITIATIVE WAS MCE'S FIFTH MOST EXPENSIVE PROGRAM IN 2024 AT $109,785. THIS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON PROVIDING MAINE BIOTECH, DIGITAL HEALTH, LIFE SCIENCES, AND MEDICAL DEVICE ENTREPRENEURS WITH THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO ACCELERATE THEIR BUSINESS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES PARTICIPANTS WITH INDUSTRY EXPERTISE, HIGHLY COLLABORATIVE AND DYNAMIC LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, TAILORED PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES, AND BUSINESS CONNECTIONS, ALL AT AN AFFORDABLE FLAT RATE. COMPANIES WORK CLOSELY WITH A PROGRAM MANAGER WITH OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN HEALTHCARE SERVICES, MEDICAL DEVICES, AND LIFE SCIENCES ENTREPRENEURIAL EXPERIENCE. THE MANAGER WORKS ONE-ON-ONE WITH MEMBER COMPANIES TO UNDERSTAND THEIR BUSINESS NEEDS AND CONNECT THEM TO APPROPRIATE MCE, PARTNER, AND INDUSTRY RESOURCES.

  Expenses $109,785

• THE LEAST EXPENSIVE OF MCE'S SIGNIFICANT PROGRAMS IS THE VISIONARY LEADERSHIP PROGRAM WITH EXPENSES OF $20,612 IN 2024. THE VISIONARY LEADERSHIP PROGRAM WAS A COLLABORATION WITH MCE, THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL CENTER AND BANGOR SAVINGS BANK. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEADERS OF STARTUPS AND SMALL BUSINESSES IN MAINE. THROUGH MONTHLY VIRTUAL MEETINGS, THE PROGRAM BUILDS A STRONG PEER GROUP, TEACHES LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND TOOLS FOR TODAY'S BUSINESS CHALLENGES, AND INTRODUCES PARTICIPANTS TO EXPERIENCED MAINE BUSINESS AND THOUGHT LEADERS.

  Expenses $20,612

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

• 2024

  Revenue

  $1,367,620

  Expenses

  $1,358,358

  Contributions

  $1,352,620

  Grants paid

  $30,500

• 2023

  Revenue

  $1,351,382

  Expenses

  $1,323,615

  Contributions

  $1,290,673

  Grants paid

  $30,500

• 2022

  Revenue

  $962,397

  Expenses

  $1,020,453

  Contributions

  $922,667

  Grants paid

  $30,500

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

• 2021 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,053,182

  Expenses

  $952,952

  Assets (EOY)

  $380,716

• 2020 · 990

  Revenue

  $871,455

  Expenses

  $817,716

  Assets (EOY)

  $293,278

• 2019 · 990

  Revenue

  $714,994

  Expenses

  $728,763

  Assets (EOY)

  $230,863

• 2018 · 990

  Revenue

  $553,853

  Expenses

  $557,093

  Assets (EOY)

  $184,902

• 2018 · 990

  Revenue

  $553,853

  Expenses

  $557,093

  Assets (EOY)

  $184,902

• 2017 · 990

  Revenue

  $267,365

  Expenses

  $426,705

  Assets (EOY)

  $328,137

• 2016 · 990

  Revenue

  $566,104

  Expenses

  $571,767

  Assets (EOY)

  $223,389

• 2015 · 990

  Revenue

  $499,810

  Expenses

  $558,120

  Assets (EOY)

  $353,623

• 2014 · 990

  Revenue

  $670,893

  Expenses

  $588,474

  Assets (EOY)

  $344,483

• 2013 · 990

  Revenue

  $583,819

  Expenses

  $493,861

  Assets (EOY)

  $275,244

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

• RMT TECH LLC DBA REACH MY TEACH

  $25,000

  2023 · 2023 TOP GUN SHOWCASE PRIZE

• NOR'EASTER OYSTER CO

  $25,000

  2024 · 2024 TOP GUN SHOWCASE PRIZE

• OCEAN INNOVATION LLC

  $25,000

  2022 · 2022 TOP GUN SHOWCASE PRIZE

• OCEAN FARM SUPPLY LLC

  $5,000

  2023 · 2023 TOP GUN MICHAEL SHEEHAN MEMORIAL AWARD

• DELTACOM COFFEE LLC

  $5,000

  2024 · 2024 TOP GUN MICHAEL SHEEHAN MEMORIAL AWARD

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

• FOUNDATION FOR A STRONG MAINE ECONOMY

  $867,935

  2023 · AWARD TO INVEST IN BUSINESS ACCELERATION PROGRAMS DELIVERED BY MAINE CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURS TO MAINE FOOD, BIOSCIENCE AND FOOD TECH COMPANIES

• FOUNDATION FOR A STRONG MAINE ECONOMY

  $762,947

  2024 · AWARD TO INVEST IN BUSINESS ACCELERATION PROGRAMS DELIVERED BY MAINE CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURS TO MAINE FOOD, BIOSCIENCE AND FOOD TECH COMPANIES

• FOUNDATION FOR A STRONG MAINE ECONOMY

  $674,668

  2022 · AWARD TO ACHIEVE ACCELERATED GROWTH AND INVESTMENT IN MAINE AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS

• MAINE TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE

  $234,382

  2024 · 2024 Maine Food Producers Showcase and Golden Fork Awards; FoodTech Maine; MOU.

• MAINE TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE

  $100,000

  2023 · MCE is seeking matching funding to support an application to EDA's Build to Scale Program to establish a Maine Bioscience Cluster Initiative to serve Maine's emerging life sciences innovators. MCE will scale our existing Top Gun and Cultivator programs and develop specific curricula to serve biosciences companies from "idea stage" to startup, and through scale-up. MCE will partner with TechPlace and the Union River Center for Innovation to host a Top Gun like accelerator at each location annually. In addition, we will hire a "Bioinnovate Champion" to support, nuture, and educate bioscience researchers and entrepreneurs on taking their innovation from the lab to the market. Finally, MCE will work with established bioscience companies to help them gain marketshare, expand markets, and become more profitable.

• MAINE AQUACULTURE INNOVATION CENTER

  $59,613

  2022 · TO SUPPORT MANAGEMENT OF MAINE'S BUSINESS INCUBATORS PROGRAM

• MAINE AQUACULTURE INNOVATION CENTER

  $59,613

  2023 · TO SUPPORT MANAGEMENT OF MAINE'S BUSINESS INCUBATORS PROGRAM

• MAINE AQUACULTURE INNOVATION CENTER

  $59,613

  2024 · TO SUPPORT MANAGEMENT OF MAINE'S BUSINESS INCUBATORS PROGRAM

• MAINE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTER

  $7,485

  2022 · Trade Show & International Conferences

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