Mainebiz

57 B U S I N E S S P RO F I L E S Each of Maine's seven community colleges has a workforce department and programs built for: Trainees: Each of Maine's seven community colleges has a short-term workforce department. Short-term pre-hire workforce training is offered to the public for free. ese programs help fill high-demand positions and take less than one year to complete; many take only a few months. Trainees conclude the course with the skills they need to go directly into the workforce. Community colleges work with industry leaders to develop or accelerate an existing curriculum, supporting computer technology, education, the green economy, health care, hospitality, manufacturing and trade occupations. A sample of programs currently underway include: Amazon Web Services Broadband Technician Certified Nursing Assistant CNC Machine Operator Commercial Driving CompTIA Construction Institute Dental Assistant Early Childhood Education Electric Vehicle Repair Emergency Medical Technician High-Pressure Boiler Operator Journey Electrician Licensed Practical Nurse Manufacturing Technician Training Marine Design Training Mechanized Logging Operations Medical Assistant Medical Coding and Billing Phlebotomy Pharmacy Technician Respiratory erapy Surgical Technologist Yamaha Outboard Motor Repair For a list of upcoming trainings, visit www.MCCSworks.com or visit the websites of CMCC, EMCC, KVCC, NMCC, SMCC, WCCC or YCCC. Businesses: e Harold Alfond Center is predicted to serve more than 13,000 incumbent workers by 2025. Any business, association, municipality or nonprofit is invited to join the Maine Workforce Development Compact. e Compact aims to upgrade workers' skills through professional development opportunities that lead to career advancement and job security. e Compact also provides access to grant funding to fulfill the training needs of front-line staff, who make up 86% of Maine's workforce. In 2022, employers can receive up to $1,200 per trainee, regard- less of the number of employees. Training takes place at one of Maine's community colleges or by a third-party training vendor, which could be a company-based training or an online workshop. e Alfond Center provides funding to the organization and opens up community college scholarships to staff. Employees have an advisor to assist with course selection, textbooks, tutoring services, and other resources to ensure their continued success. e Compact currently has more than 400 businesses and associations, spanning all industry sectors. Examples of trainings Compact Members have utilized fund- ing for include commercial driving, conflict resolution, excel, grant writing, high pressure boiler operator, leadership training, masonry, OSHA and safety training, social media, specialized automotive training, welding and more. For more information or to join, visit bit.ly/WorkforceCompact. Scholarships: By serving Mainers with some college credit, e Alfond Center is helping more attain a credential of value by delivering for-credit courses to more than 3,200 individuals in the form of community college scholarships. In 2022, incumbent workers are eligible for a $425 scholarship, the equivalent of most three-credit courses. In 2023 and beyond, they're eligible for up to two classes at 50% per semester. e course catalog of Maine's seven community colleges features more than 4,500 for-credit courses. It is available at www.MCCSworks.com. Additionally, initiatives at the Alfond Center include: Apprenticeship: In partnership with the Maine Apprenticeship Program, and in an effort to double the number of apprentice- ships in the state, the Harold Alfond Center coordinates customized training for workers and businesses. e Earn-and-Learn model attracts new employees and upskills current staff, allowing companies to retain workers through career pathways that grow your organization. e Center can help offset training and wage costs while improving worker productivity, quality, and safety. Digital Badging: By collaborating with business partners, the Harold Alfond Center creates programs that result in demonstrat- able skills with learning outcomes built on models of predictive validity. Digital badges provide visible, stackable learning oppor- tunities and demonstrate the mastery of a topic. e earner receives a sharable, transferable, and transparent credential of value. Recognized by MCCS, digital badges can have college credit associated with the learning experience. MCCS has awarded more than 16,000 badges. Diversity Equity & Inclusion Training: DE&I training and tools help create an organizational culture that is mindful, supportive, and inclusive of everybody. It empowers trainees to be agents of change within their companies, ensuring equal access to resources and sup- port, acknowledging and honoring cultural differences, modeling practices that make employees feel safe, and learning to address bias. Remote Work for ME: A new three-year, $1.2 million project will provide rural Maine residents with free training to pursue remote work opportunities. It will also provide training to current employees at Maine businesses expanding remote work to train employees to oversee remote workers. MCCS will provide training to more than 700 people over the next three years. Occupational training and equipment grants are also available. An Investment in Maine's Future Maine's industry and business communities have been vital partners in creating programs, designing accelerated curricula, and driving progress in workforce development. e economic impact of training 24,000 learners will significantly impact the companies they work for and the communities in which they live. We hope that it will also profoundly affect the trainee's life: they will recognize their incredible potential, the opportunities ahead, and what they can accomplish. We are proud to be training Maine's workforce. FMI: alfondtraining@mccs.me.edu or www.MCCSworks.com Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine's Workforce Maine Community College System, 323 State St., Augusta, ME 04330 Sector: Workforce Training Dan Belyea, Chief Workforce Development Officer Founded: October 2021 Number of Maine Employees: 16 www.MCCSworks.com S P O N S O R E D C O N T E N T B U S I N E S S P R O F I L E P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F K V C C Above: A student from Kennebec Valley Community College's welding program pauses during hands-on instruction. Accelerated three-week welding programs were built with industry partners and prepare trainees to be job- ready at no cost to the student.

• Cover