As Maine’s only 2027 FAST awardee, the CMGC’s Waterville-based Dirigo Labs program will help entrepreneurs and small businesses statewide compete for America’s Seed Fund, the nation’s largest source of non-dilutive early-stage innovation capital.
WATERVILLE, Maine, October 8, 2026 — Central Maine Growth Council (CMGC) has once again been selected by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as Maine’s sole recipient of a Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program award, marking the third consecutive year the organization has earned the highly competitive designation. The new $180,000 award brings total federal investment in CMGC’s FAST program to $474,420 and ensures continued support for Maine entrepreneurs, startups, and technology-focused small businesses seeking to secure federal research and development funding through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.
The FAST Program supports organizations that provide specialized training, mentorship, technical assistance, and proposal development support to businesses pursuing SBIR and STTR funding through America’s Seed Fund, the nation’s largest source of non-dilutive early-stage innovation capital. CMGC will deliver the program through Dirigo Labs, its entrepreneurship and innovation platform, expanding support for innovators and entrepreneurs across Maine. The initiative increases awareness of SBIR/STTR opportunities, strengthens commercialization strategies, and helps high-growth companies secure the federal resources needed to bring transformative technologies to market. The effort aligns closely with Dirigo Labs’ work to connect founders with mentorship, technical expertise, and growth resources that help businesses scale and succeed.
“Maine is home to an incredible pipeline of innovators solving real-world challenges,” said Jeff Frank, Program Manager of Dirigo Labs. “This funding allows us to meet founders where they are and provide hands-on support as they navigate one of the most important sources of early-stage technology funding available. By helping companies access SBIR and STTR resources, we’re not only supporting individual businesses, we’re helping build a stronger innovation ecosystem across the state.”
Since launching Dirigo Labs, CMGC has worked to accelerate entrepreneurship and innovation across Maine through business incubation, mentorship, technical assistance, strategic partnerships, and access to capital. The FAST award builds upon that foundation, creating additional pathways for entrepreneurs developing solutions in Maine’s seven (7) targeted technology sectors, while also extending general small business support to innovative companies across all industries.
“Being named Maine’s SBIR/STTR Resource Center is a defining moment for central Maine and for the state’s innovation economy,” said Garvan Donegan, President and CEO of the Central Maine Growth Council. “Too often, promising entrepreneurs and technology companies lack the capacity or technical expertise needed to successfully pursue federal innovation funding. Through this FAST award, we will expand access to coaching, mentorship, and proposal support so more Maine businesses can compete nationally, secure critical research and development resources, and ultimately create jobs and economic opportunity here at home. As Maine’s SBIR/STTR Resource Center, Dirigo Labs will deliver specialized tracks and a cohort-within-a-cohort model for SBIR education, technical assistance, and application development, so founders get support matched to their technology and stage of readiness. Our core Dirigo Labs programs are built on National Science Foundation (NSF) commercialization methods, which ground companies in customer discovery and market validation before and during the application process. That approach positions high-growth companies in Maine’s seven (7) technology sectors, from biotechnology, precision manufacturing, wood products and advanced materials, artificial intelligence, and clean technologies, along with small businesses across every industry, to compete for, and win, federal innovation funding.”
As a FAST award recipient, CMGC will provide localized support that helps entrepreneurs identify funding opportunities, develop competitive applications, and move new technologies from research and development toward commercialization and market growth. The project is also being delivered in partnership with the Maine Technology Institute (MTI) through its SBIR/STTR Technical Assistance Program (TAP), which provides free, expert guidance to Maine startups, entrepreneurs, and small businesses seeking SBIR/STTR funding. Together, Dirigo Labs and MTI will coordinate outreach, education, and proposal support so Maine applicants can access the full range of resources available statewide. The 2027 FAST award cohort will support innovators across 49 states and Puerto Rico. Maine entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in pursuing SBIR/STTR funding are encouraged to connect with Dirigo Labs at dirigolabs.org.
About CMGC
CMGC, located in Waterville, Maine, is a public-private collaborative regional economic development partnership funded by municipalities and businesses who share a common vision of economic prosperity for our region. CMGC is committed to fostering a robust regional economy. Our belief is that the standard of living and quality of life of our citizens is best served by a vibrant, healthy economy. This is accomplished with a strong successful business community. CMGC operates Dirigo Labs and serves as the State of Maine’s designated SBIR/STTR Resource Center through the SBA FAST Program. Learn more at www.centralmaine.org
About Dirigo Labs
Dirigo Labs is a Waterville, Maine-based startup accelerator and a program of the Central Maine Growth Council. With a mission to grow the greater Waterville area’s innovation economy, Dirigo Labs supports entrepreneurs across the founder journey from the idea-stage Dirigo Launch Incubator to its growth-focused accelerator programming through mentorship, structured curriculum, connections to capital, and access to federal SBIR/STTR resources. The Dirigo Labs ecosystem brings together founders, mentors, investors, academic institutions, and economic development partners, including the Maine Technology Institute (MTI), to strengthen Maine’s entrepreneurial pipeline. To learn more, visit dirigolabs.org.
Media Contact: Jeff FrankProgram Manager, Dirigo LabsCentral Maine Growth Counciljeff@centralmaine.org207-530-6053