Workforce

LABOR

Northern Maine has a motivated and affordable workforce, as well as a number of applied workforce training programs to support business growth. The State of Maine offers numerous business assistance programs to help support business growth.

WORKFORCE TRAINING

SPECIALIZED TRAINING at local community colleges and universities for your business, customized to your business needs.

PRE-HIRE TRAINING

Maine’s community colleges offer short-term FREE training programs for workforce development.

WORKFORCE FUNDING

The Maine Workforce Development Compact offers member businesses training funds, scholarships, and personalized advising.

APPRENTICESHIPS

The Maine Apprenticeship Program has established “earn while you learn” apprenticeship work models customized to the specific needs of employers.

LOCAL HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTERS

YOUR PARTNER IN WORKFORCE TRAINING

The Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce coordinates short-term workforce training programs for Maine’s community colleges and business community. Working closely with business and industry leaders, the Center’s workforce specialists can work quickly to design training for your business needs.

The Center is part of a historic $60 million investment for workforce training. The Center is poised to serve 24,000 Mainers by 2025.

GET PRE-HIRE TRAINING

Ensure your skills match employers’ needs and sign up for one of our many short-term workforce training programs. Maine’s community colleges offer free training that ties your news skills into a high-demand job.

For more information: https://www.mccs.me.edu/workforce-training/for-trainees/

TRAIN YOUR WORKFORCE

The Maine Workforce Development Compact comprises 300 Maine businesses, associations, nonprofits, and municipalities committed to working together to solve Maine’s workforce challenges.

Joining the Compact gives businesses access to funding and streamlined access to the Center’s services, which include:

Up to $1,200 in professional development funding per frontline worker in 2022. A $600 match is available in 2023 and 2024.
Community college scholarships for staff to continue to acquire skills in pursuit of a degree or credential of value.
An advisor to assist employees with course selection, textbooks, tutoring services, and other resources to ensure their continued success.
Maintenance of your employees’ training records.

Training for Compact members can occur at one of Maine’s community colleges, by a third-party training vendor, or through a company-based training.

For more information on joining the Compact, visit https://www.mccs.me.edu/workforce-training/maine-workforce-development-compact/

APPRENTICESHIPS

Maine’s community colleges have been working with the Maine Apprenticeship Program to establish apprenticeship work models customized to the specific needs of employers. The earn-while-you-learn model tailors curriculum and develops a workforce plan to meet the goals of any employer, based on their industry and specific needs. Grant funding is available to help subsidize training costs for many employers. A registered Maine apprenticeship requires 2,000 hours of on-the-job training and 144 hours of classroom training.

For more information, contact Richard Sterrs at [email protected]

REMOTE WORK FOR ME

The Remote Work for ME initiative offers free six- to nine-month workforce training programs to people living in rural Maine who want to work remotely. The training includes communications, time management, and equipment best practices around remote work, as well as occupational training that prepares learners to enter into a remote position in a health office occupation. Additional funding is available for equipment.