Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 19 JA N UA R Y 1 2 , 2 0 2 6 F O C U S E C O N O M I C F O R E C A S T "Most exciting to me is that our industry continues to attract lots of young talent and new employees," he says. "Maine has an amazing workforce, and it is energizing to watch our teams manufacture, design and deliver on our promises to builders as Maine continues to expand, reinvent itself and grow." WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Community colleges training workers to meet demand across industries B y T i n a F i s c h e r "I f Maine businesses are to stay competitive in 2026 and beyond, access to skilled talent must be predict- able, responsive and aligned with real- world needs," says Dan Belyea, chief workforce development director for the Maine Community College System. Maine's seven community col- leges, from Presque Isle to Wells, are helping employers train skilled workers faster in a tight labor market. "Short term, employer-driven training has become our most effective tool," Belyea says. In the past fiscal year, the com- munity college system built some 220 training programs to prepare 7,000 Mainers for jobs. "ese programs are shaped by industry input, delivered quickly and focused on skills employ- ers need now," Belyea says. is work is especially critical, he notes, for small and mid-sized busi- nesses, which are the backbone of Maine's economy. "Many of these employers lack the capacity to design and deliver training on their own," he says. "Community colleges are filling that gap by serving as true workforce partners — helping companies grow, adapt and retain talent, while remaining rooted in Maine." Over the next five years, the work will represent a $60 million investment in Maine's workforce — $30 million from the Maine Workforce Development Compact and a $30 million match from Maine employers. "Looking ahead," Belyea says, "Maine's economic resilience will depend on how effectively educa- tion and industry work together. Community colleges are proving that when workforce solutions are flexible, employer-informed and built for scale, everyone benefits — businesses, work- ers and Maine's economy." H O U S I N G P O L I C Y Legislators working to address Maine's housing shortage B y T i n a F i s c h e r W ith the extraordinary influx of new residents over the past few years, Maine needs an estimated 84,000 new units of housing by 2030, according to the latest comprehensive study. As chair of the Maine Legislature's Housing and Economic Development Committee, state Rep. Traci Gere, D-Kennebunkport, is steering policy to facilitate housing development to meet the need now as well as for the coming years. "Last session, the legislature approved on-going funding for the state's pro- grams that support the production of rental housing and homes for ownership for workers and households with very low incomes," Gere says. "is year, we are considering a housing bond that will bridge the gap between now and when that funding becomes available. We must keep our strong momentum going so that devel- opers, builders and construction workers have a pipeline of projects." C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » Custom Home Plans 3D Renderings & Walkthroughs Additions & Renovations Material Lists & Estimates HAMMONDLUMBER.COM DRAFTING & DESIGN SERVICES 34 LOCATIONS ACROSS MAINE & NEW HAMPSHIRE Boston Concord Manchester Portsmouth Upper Valley SHEEHAN.COM Eric Collins Corporate Attorney 603.627.8266 ecollins@sheehan.com Eric Collins focuses his legal practice advising and counseling small to mid-cap businesses from formation through exit, including entity formation, corporate tax, borrower-side commercial lending, private equity/debt, strategic growth acquisitions, succession plans, and market exits. He works with venture capital firms, life science companies, cannabis companies, technology companies, and family enterprises. Eric also acts as outside-general counsel for privately held businesses and small public companies. Sheehan Phinney WELCOMES Eric Collins to our Corporate Group. Legal counsel for businesses of all sizes. F I L E P H O T O Kevin Hancock, chairman of Hancock Lumber F I L E P H O T O Dan Belyea is chief workforce development director for Maine's Community Colleges system.

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