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W O R K F O R M E / S P R I N G 2 0 2 0 6 Amid turbulent job market, skills still pay the bills There has been no better exam- ple of the need for skilled work- ers as we have seen in recent weeks and months. The pan- demic has shown how nimble companies have been able to pivot and how skilled workers have still been in demand. Maine's population is the old- est in the nation, which is why developing young people for the workforce remains so vital. In this broader, more compre- hensive incarnation of Work for ME (formerly known as Stuff), we have expanded beyond manu- facturing to include health care, hospitality, construction and the trades and banking and service industries. Here's a snapshot of the five industry features: n Banking and related servic- es continue to cultivate the workforce through intern- ships and programs like the New Mainer Teller Training program. See Page 8. n Going back to the 1970s, the Bath Regional and Career and Technical Center has been preparing students for the construction trades by liter- ally giving them the tools to build a house that will be put up for sale. See Page 14. n In health care, there has been a significant trend toward needing nurses of all kinds and trained medical profes- sionals. See Page 24. n In the field of hotel and event space management, Southern Maine Community College's hospitality program has cre- ated a pipeline to the industry. See Page 30. n In the manufacturing industry, boatbuilders are known for skills that can easily adapt to furniture building and home construction, among other things. There are two well- established programs training students for a career in fields like wooden boat building, yacht design, marine systems and composite construction. See Page 34. Even amid today's uncertain- ty, there are great job prospects for people willing and eager to train and up their skills levels. n Mainebiz Laura C. came to New Ventures Maine in 2015 for help with her business plan. Today, her company, Black Bear Support Services, grosses $1M a year and employs 65 people around the state by providing high-quality care to families who need it most. New Ventures Maine is celebrating 40 years of life-changing success stories like this. Our tuition-free training and individual coaching help people define and achieve their career, financial and small business goals. All classes and coaching are available online. To learn more about our services and opportunities to partner with us, visit newventuresmaine.org. 207-621-3434 newventuresmaine.org S p o n s o r L e t t e r Donna Brassard Mainebiz Publisher Peter Van Allen Mainebiz Editor