Mainebiz

1. How are Maine's community colleges contributing to Maine's construction workforce? Our job is to get skilled workers into the marketplace as soon as possible. We do that with a mix of short-term workforce training that takes just weeks or months to complete; one-year certificate programs; and two-year associate degree programs. Students can pursue a wide range of construction-related programs – at their own preferred pace – including electrical engineering, plumbing and heating, architectural and engineering design, and building construction technology. And if they want to con- tinue their studies, we have excellent transfer programs into the University of Maine System colleges. Our short-term workforce training focuses on preparing new workers and upskilling current employees for jobs that are open right now, and is overseen by The Harold Alfond Cen- ter for the Advancement of Maine's Workforce, established by the Maine Community College System in 2021. These programs, available at all of our seven colleges, are accelerated programs that respond directly to employer demand – everything from introductory bootcamps to CDL licensing, welding, heavy equipment operation, HVAC, electrical, leader- ship development, and advanced construction technologies. 2. Why is workforce development in construction such a priority right now? The construction industry is at a pivotal moment. We're seeing rising demand for infrastructure, housing, and energy projects – combined with a wave of retirements and a shrinking labor force. Employers are facing real talent shortages. At the same time, this sector offers good-paying jobs and clear advancement opportunities. The time to invest in training, recruitment, and retention is now, or we risk losing momentum across the state. 3. How is the Alfond Center responding? The Alfond Center has committed $8.3 million in pre-hire training this year alone, across industries. This investment funds 220 short-term training programs for 6,700 Mainers. We work closely with employers to design programs that are fast, flexi- ble, and aligned with real workforce needs. Most of our programs are free or low-cost to participants, which removes a key barrier to entry. With a $75.5 million grant from the Alfond Foundation, we're scaling this work to serve 70,505 Mainers by 2030. 4. How does the Alfond Center support employers directly? In addition to designing programs and building a talent pipeline with our pre-hire training programs, we provide funding to offset training costs to upskill incumbent workers. Employers who join the Alfond Cen- ter's Maine Workforce Development Compact can request up to $1,200 per year in matching funds per frontline employee for whatever workforce training they need to advance in their jobs. Joining the Compact is free and employees need to live or work in Maine. It's a comprehensive model that meets businesses and employees where they are at. Students can also access Alfond Center scholarships, designed for working adults, to pursue an academic certificate or degree. 5. Do you have partners in this work? Yes, earlier this year we launched the Construction Industry Workforce Part- nership, which includes approximately 25 residential, commercial, industrial and specialty trade construction companies, as well as strong industry partnerships with industry associa- tions like like the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Maine, As- sociated General Contractors of Maine, Associated Builders and Contractors of Maine, union partners, and education and workforce partners such as the Department of Labor, State Workforce Board, the Maine Apprenticeship program, Adult Education, Career and Technical Education and the University of Maine. We work closely with high schools, CTE programs, adult education, Department of Corrections, nonprofits, workforce boards, and third-party training vendors to align programming and reach various audiences. Sector partnerships are critical – because no one entity can solve the workforce challenge alone. 6. Is this model unique to construction programs at the community colleges? Not at all. The sector partnership model we're using in construction is also driving our work in healthcare, manufacturing, and hospitality. What's unique about construction is the breadth of pathways – from skilled trades to supervisory and project management roles – and the urgency employers are feeling. That's why we've developed a dedicated construction and trades landing page to showcase available training, high- light partnerships, and make it easy for individuals to train in this area. 7. How can individuals and employers access training and programs? Whether you are a jobseeker looking to get started in a new career, or an employer looking to upskill your crew, we have opportunities through our colleges statewide. We encourage employers to join the Compact – it's free – and unlock funding, scholarships, and support. Maine's community colleges are a great place to help you start and build your future workforce. 8. What are some examples of training? Out of the 220 short-term training programs set up this year, we have construction institutes, machining, CDL, electrical, fiber optic, gas and propane, heat pump installation, welding, and more. These are offered at no-cost to participants. We are also working directly with industry partners through the Construction Industry Workforce Partnership to design new pre-hire and upskilling programs in carpentry, heavy equip- ment operation, and HVAC. 9. Where should individuals go to learn more? Visit our construction and trades training page at alfondcenter.mccs. me.edu/construction S P O N S O R E D C O N T E N T Ask the Expert Building Maine's Construction Workforce: A Conversation with Dan Belyea, Chief Workforce Development Officer at the Maine Community College System

• Cover