Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce has joined with many business partners (including the University of Maine) to serve thousands of Mainers with short-term workforce skill training through 2030. This means that Mainers are potentially eligible for workforce training through training vendors like the University of Maine for half the cost.

This is an employer-driven program. In order to participate, your employer will need to become a Maine Workforce Development Compact (MWDC) Member. Employees of Compact Members can qualify for 50/50 matching funding, up to $1200 annually, to put toward training expenses for a variety of approved programming. All Maine companies qualify to become Compact Members, and there are additional resources available for small- and mid-sized companies.

It’s estimated that about 85–90% of Maine’s workforce is eligible to benefit from this funding. To be eligible for training, workers must be:

• 18 or older
• a Maine resident, and
• have a high school diploma or equivalent

Businesses/companies/organizations who are considering becoming Compact Members do not need to know in advance what programs or classes their employees want to take.

Do note that the University of Maine System does not administer this program and can not make any guarantees about employer, applicant, or program eligibility.  

Below, please find relevant information and contacts for your questions: