The Maryland Department of Commerce is helping defense contractors grow their businesses, increase profits and find new opportunities. The Maryland Defense Diversification Assistance (MDDA) program seeks to help defense contractors diversify into new markets. Diversification is important for defense contractors given the unpredictability of procurement trends of the United States Department of Defense (DoD).
What Do I Get by Applying?
The MDDA program will help your business find new sources of revenue beyond your DoD contracts. This program will provide your business with strategies to help lessen your funding dependency on DoD revenue, which can often be unpredictable in the case of budget cuts, contract cancellations, etc.
As part of this process, your business will undergo an assessment of its services/products and business practices and goals. This assessment will determine your business’s readiness to enter new markets.
If your business is assessed as ready to diversify then you will have an option to attend training and skill building seminars at no charge. You may also receive a recommendation to work with an expert consultant who can assist in exporting or commercialization activities.
Please note that the MDDA program doesn’t reimburse or pay participants. Instead, the program will pay for partial costs of consulting services related to the program. These services can include: coaching/mentorship, market identification and research, supply chain solutions, strategic development assistance, lean manufacturing, export legal counseling, executive coaching, ITAR/EAR Compliance, logistics and distribution services, website globalization, marketing assistance and more.
What Are the Program Benefits?
According to the Maryland Department of Commerce, the benefits of the MDDA program include:
- Preparing contractors for entry into new commercial markets, domestically and internationally.
- Highly customized, FREE training opportunities in export assistance and skill building to sell to commercial markets for qualified participants.
- Subsidized consulting services of up to $10,000 for qualified participants.
Who Is Eligible?
To apply for the program, your business must meet the following requirements:
- At least 35% of annual revenue from DoD contracts
- Good standing with the state of Maryland
- More than one employee
- Located and operating in Maryland for at least one year
Need Help?
For more information on the program, you can reach out to the program administrators at mdda.outreach@maryland.gov. Maryland manufacturers can also reach out to the Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership at dmoran@mdmep.org for more information on the program.
