Economic Development Department
The Gulf of Maine ecosystem and its surrounding communities are engines of innovation and economic growth.
We collaborate with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and the business community to foster a resilient and sustainable regional marine economy.
Our efforts to support the region's heritage and emerging marine industries include:
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Supporting sustainable growth in the region's aquaculture industry by providing crucial resources, training programs, and market analysis
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Enhancing the market for responsibly harvested from the Gulf of Maine, supporting both economic and ecological sustainability
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Connecting entrepreneurs with essential facilities, expertise, and networks needed to develop and scale their marine-based businesses
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Providing information and tools to help coastal communities contribute constructively and effectively to local economic development efforts
Economic Development Programs
Supporting the people who depend on the ocean for their livelihoods — from fishermen to blue tech start-up founders to aquaculture farmers, and more.
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![Sustainable Seafood Program]()
Sustainable Seafood Program
We work with industry leaders across the supply chain to build market demand and empower consumers to find and buy Gulf of Maine seafood. We …
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![Business Climate Action Program]()
Business Climate Action Program
The Business Climate Action Program (BCAP) works with small and medium enterprises to identify industry- and location-specific risks of climate change. We collaboratively develop strategies …
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![Advancing Aquaculture]()
Advancing Aquaculture
We are working collaboratively with industry leaders, farmers, researchers, the business community, and other nonprofits to identify and pursue opportunities to expand aquaculture production. Together, …
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![Gulf of Maine Ventures]()
Gulf of Maine Ventures
Building a resilient, modernized 21st-century marine economy by supporting high-impact companies.
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![Founder Flex Program]()
Founder Flex Program
Designed around each company’s specific objectives, the Founder Flex program can help startups address a range of challenges as they design, build, or expand.
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![BlueTech Boost Incubator Program]()
BlueTech Boost Incubator Program
The BlueTech Boost program is a 10-week incubator designed to assist early-stage startup founders in overcoming challenges and achieving milestones.
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![Offshore Wind Program]()
Offshore Wind Program
Our offshore wind program will provide interested stakeholders with the best available information about the risks, opportunities, and uncertainties associated with offshore wind development.
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![Climate Finance Resource Hub]()
Climate Finance Resource Hub
Our Climate Financing Program is designed to help communities overcome the financial barriers to climate action. Whether supporting disaster recovery, or enabling proactive investments in …
Read More
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Sea State Recap: Developing the Blue Economy and Supporting Working Waterfronts
At our latest Sea State Seminar, we turned our attention to the people and places that keep Maine’s coastal economies alive. Framed by the theme …
Perspectives
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2025 Research Progress Update
Each year, to keep you updated on our research team's progress, we develop an update showcasing some of our lab's achievements. More broadly, this update …
Reports
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Sea State Recap: Adapting Fisheries & Seafood
In this installment of the Sea State series at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI), we hosted a conversation about how collaboration and shared …
Perspectives
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Community Science Wrapped 2025
Understanding how climate change is reshaping the Gulf of Maine, and New England at large, depends on steady, long-term observations — the kinds that reveal …
Perspectives
