Mainebiz

V I E W P O I N T S W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 3 J U LY 8 , 2 0 1 9 From the Editor N o matter where you go in Maine, the worker shortage is there to greet you. Your morning coffee shop cut its hours, the din- ner you ordered is taking the better part of an hour to arrive at the table, the electrician hasn't called back with an estimate. ere are inconveniences and then there are crucial shortages. e worker shortage is affecting hospitals, trucking firms, grocery stores and, yes, your favorite coffee shop. is issue focuses on Augusta, Waterville and central Maine — but the worker shortage is just as persistent there. at's one reason we decided to look at a college that has put careers at the forefront of the curriculum. As Senior Writer Renee Cordes reports in our cover story, in Maine business circles it's not unusual to run into omas College grads, of which there are around 8,000. Four out of five omas grads stay and work in Maine after graduating. As Laurie Lachance, omas's president, says, "We're all about careers … e students that we attract need to get employment. ey're far less likely to graduate and then go tour the world backpacking." More than half of omas College students qualify for its job-guarantee program. It promises that students will find a job related to their major within six months of graduating, or get a break on student loans or tuition. But students have to meet certain criteria, which are spelled out in a contract. ey must meet strict aca- demic standards, register with career services, take part in professional development, write and update a résumé and perform community service. "If you do those things, guess what? You're highly employable," says Lachance, "It's the use of a carrot rather than a stick." Renee's story starts on Page 14. Mainebiz wins two national awards e aforementioned worker shortage was the topic of a series of stories that won Mainebiz a silver award at the annual Alliance of Area Business Publishers' meeting in Atlanta. e workforce development stories were writ- ten by Senior Writer Laurie Schreiber, who has been with for Mainebiz for five years, and our new Digital Editor William Hall, who had been a freelancer for a year before being hired in June. Laurie's story looked at ways doc- tors are being recruited for busy summer months at Mount Desert Island Hospital, while Will's story looked at how the labor shortage is affecting companies like Scott Dugas Trucking and Excavating in Yarmouth. "e well-reported story on the labor shortage in Maine contained excellent anecdotes and lots of spe- cifics. Who would've thought truck drivers could be in short supply? Or the innovative way that Bar Harbor attracts physicians during the busy summer season? e stories reflect a deep knowledge of the state, give great context, and raise important questions," the AABP judges said in making the award. Mainebiz also won a bronze award for best overall design, including for the annual Fact Book. is is a credit to Art Director Matt Selva. "is is a well- organized publication that makes effective use of color-coded sections, clean aesthetic style, and carefully considered use of whitespace. It all adds up to an easy- to- navigate and pleasing reader experience. A stand- out feature included the Maine Fact Book that was clear, well-handled, and utilized attractive side bars, and pull-quotes. ere is a consistent strategic use of color throughout to great effect," the judges said. Peter Van Allen pvanallen@mainebiz.biz Featured @ Mainebiz.biz For a daily digest of Maine's top business news, sign up for the Mainebiz Daily Report at mainebiz.biz/enews Get Maine's business news daily at mainebiz.biz and on Twitter (@Mainebiz). Below is our top content from between June 17 and July 1. 1. UMaine, East Millinocket get $1.25M for forest-industry development 2. Why this native Mainer moved out of Maine 3. Purchase of long-vacant Waterville mill building seen as development key 4. Mills signs $8 billion budget, bills including Green New Deal, plastic bag ban 5. Augusta's Turnpike Mall, historic but beset by vacancies, sold for $3.2 million 6. The Forks white water rafting company expands to Skowhegan 7. Entrepreneurs on a mission: Three Maine eco-innovators out to conquer the green economy 8. Golden and Pingree amendment could sink proposed federal lobstering law 9. New Harvey Performance plant to bring high-end manufacturing to Gorham 10. MaineHousing revives program to spark affordable home construction F I L E P H O T O / JA M E S M C C A R T H Y 1 Be smart. BE SHUR. bernsteinshur.com When you need a JD with an MBA's approach. How to make yourself 'highly employable'

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