From staff reports

Maine Technology Institute, the state-backed agency that supports technology startups, has awarded more than $82,000 in grants.

Private matching funds from the recipient companies are expected to total more than $101,000.

TechStart Grants, which are awarded to companies or entrepreneurs seeking to develop their ideas into new, innovative products or services, were made to four companies for a total award of $14,050, according to a news release from MTI.

They are:

n Farmer Brown Organics of Presque Isle, $5,000 (match, $6,076);

n Heatek Energy of Auburn, $2,050 (match, $5,300);

n Limbeck Engineering of Freeport, $2,000 (match, $2,035);

n Q-Team Inc. of Naples, $5,000 (match, $13,000).

MTI also awarded Business Accelerator Grants to three companies, intended to help them enhance their competitiveness, develop products and internal business systems, and apply for federal money.

They are:

n Cerahelix Inc. of Orono, $15,000 (match, $16,376);

n Kennebec River Biosciences Inc. of Richmond, $20,000 (match, $24,560);

n Municipay of Scarborough, $28,723 (match, $28,723).

Also, a Phase 0 Kickstarter Grant of $4,990 was awarded to Alba-Technic of Winthrop to help it seek small business research grants from the federal government. The company provided a match of $5,000.

The next round of grant applications closes on Feb. 2.