When Reed & Reed officials go into meetings with Spanish and German companies during this gubernatorial trade mission, they don't go in alone.

A subcontractor, Patrick Graham of James W. Sewall Co., can talk about permitting and engineering. Stephen Perry of Sargent Corp., another subcontractor, can address access issues - how to get roads to remote sites where wind turbines will go.

Reed & Reed of Woolwich is a general contractor and a big player in wind farm construction, building 200 turbines in New England.

When it was invited on Maine's trade mission, Reed & Reed asked its subcontractors along, said John Cooney, vice president of finance and development.

The company wants to show investment bankers, potential wind farm developers, that Reed & Reed - and by extension, Maine - provides a "one-stop shop," he said.

With its focus on wind power, this is one of the most targeted trade missions Maine has sponsored. Instead of businesses from a range of sectors, most participants are construction-related companies. And a level of congeniality and purpose has been evident.

"Maine is a close-knit community. We know one another, we like to play well in the same sandbox," said Perry. "We can go out one night and have drinks, and bid against each other the next day."

Sometimes competitors become collaborators. For instance, Sullivan & Merritt Constructors of Hermon and Reed & Reed have talked about working together in the future.

"The common goal is, we all want to bring business to Maine," said Perry.

Wind power is much more advanced in Europe than in the United States - particularly in the east. While there is opposition to wind power in the U.S., more and more projects are popping up in Maine and the rest of New England.

"It's going to continue to advance and evolve, and we're at the front end of the evolution," said Cooney of Reed & Reed. "We're all poised to participate and reap the benefits of the industry as it continues to mature."

Paul Davis, project manager for the Maine Composites Alliance, said the companies participating in the trip are competitive by nature, with their own agendas.