Fresh start for statewide Maine Made program

    AUGUSTA — The improved Maine Made program is now able to showcase its members’ products even more effectively, according to state officials.
    The Maine Made program has over 1,700 members throughout the state and is growing every day. Within the past six months alone, 61 businesses have been granted membership, giving them access to the unique branding and marketing advantage that the Maine Made program provides. The Maine Made brand is known worldwide as one that is synonymous with high-quality products.

    “This program gives many entrepreneurs in Maine the attention they deserve,” said Gov. Paul R. LePage in a press release from his office. “The hard work and ingenuity of Maine’s job creators and the high quality products they create, give the Maine Made logo the distinguished reputation it maintains around the world.”
    Since the last quarter of 2012, the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) has been making a concerted effort to upgrade the Maine Made Program’s web presence by removing inactive profiles, making the website more user friendly, and making more extensive use of social media. These improvements have led to an increase in daily website visits and profile views from across the country, thereby increasing visibility for all Maine Made Program members.
    The Maine Made program has been assisting member businesses with marketing their products for 30 years. The longevity of this program is a testament to the value that member businesses attribute to it, and many members have taken advantage of its branding and marketing benefits.    Eight Maine Made businesses were recently nominated for the 2013 Martha Stewart American Made Awards including Northwoods Gourmet Girl, an all-natural specialty food company in Greenville.
    Future plans for the Maine Made Program include developing independent categories for manufacturers and Native American crafts, website upgrades to enhance mobile device compatibility, and monthly visits with member companies.
    Visit www.mainemade.com for a complete list of Maine Made program members.