Nearly $8 Million for Maine’s Community Colleges and Other Workforce Development Programs Secured by Senator Collins
Funding would support Maine’s Community Colleges, Husson University, St. Joseph’s College, Thomas College, and other organizations dedicated to workforce development
Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured $7,975,000 for Maine’s community colleges, other local colleges, and workforce development programs in the draft Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations bills. The bills, which were officially released by the full Senate Appropriations Committee today, must still be voted upon by the full Senate and House.
“In addition to competing in a global economy, our nation faces the economic challenge of emerging from an historic pandemic,” said Senator Collins. “Business owners throughout Maine have told me that they have jobs available but have difficulty finding qualified and trained workers to fill these vacant positions. Job training creates economic opportunities by aligning employees’ skills with employers’ needs, preparing individuals for a successful future in their chosen field. By supporting Maine’s Community Colleges, Husson University, St. Joseph’s College, Thomas College, and other organizations dedicated to workforce development, this funding will provide students with the skills they need to prepare for rewarding careers in industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, cybersecurity, and health care. As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to champion this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
Details on the workforce development projects Senator Collins requested are below:
Aroostook County
NMCC Early Childhood Education Degree Program Expansion
Recipient: Northern Maine Community College
Project Location: Presque Isle, ME
Amount: $115,000
Purpose: To expand enrollment in NMCC's early childhood education degree program in order to increase the early childhood educator workforce in Aroostook County.
Cumberland County
Southern Maine Community College Facility Purchase and Certificate Program
Recipient: Southern Maine Community College
Project Location: Brunswick, ME
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Project Purpose: To purchase a facility to support Controlled Environment Agriculture and to initiate a certificate program in greenhouse management and horticulture. This programming will help educate Maine businesses, communities, and citizens about ways to foster year-round food and plant growth, including through workforce skills training and industry workshops.
Electric Vehicle Automotive Certification Expansion
Recipient: Southern Maine Community College (SMCC)
Project Location: South Portland, ME
Amount Requested: $500,000
Project Purpose: To fund the newly implemented electric vehicle repair certification program.
St. Joseph's College Front Line Health Care Workforce Training
Recipient: Trustees of St. Joseph's College
Project Location: Standish, ME
Amount: $1,165,000
Purpose: To renovate a facility to train nursing students to enter the home care workforce serving Maine's elderly population.
Franklin County
CES Youth Workforce and Building Community Planning
Recipient: Center for Entrepreneurial Studies
Project Location: Farmington, ME
Amount Requested: $250,000
Project Purpose: To develop a parcel and build two facilities for a Youth Center where
internships and entrepreneurial opportunities will be available to youth aged 14-24.
Hancock County
Dedham/Lucerne Fire Station Addition
Recipient: Town of Dedham
Project Location: Dedham, ME
Amount Requested: $250,000
Project Purpose: To build fire station barracks for full-time staff and student trainees from the Fire Science program at Eastern Maine Community College.
Kennebec County
Thomas College Project Sentinel
Recipient: Thomas College
Project Location: Waterville, ME
Amount: $974,000
Purpose: To provide a pipeline for qualified students into Thomas College's undergraduate and graduate degree programs in cybersecurity in order to expand the pipeline of professionals in the cybersecurity field, which is in high demand.
Penobscot County
Husson University STEM Workforce Expansion
Recipient: Husson University
Project Location: Bangor, ME
Amount: $726,000
Purpose: To purchase high-tech science lab equipment to enable Husson University to expand enrollments and add new programs to meet workforce needs by providing experiential learning and skills-based training that will prepare students for health care and STEM careers.
Rural Nursing, First Responder, and Allied Health Workforce Training Initiative
Recipient: Eastern Maine Community College
Project Location: Bangor, ME
Amount: $1,350,000
Purpose: To expand health care training programs that provide hands-on and remote training to rural health care workers and prospective workers as part of licensing and certification programs.
Somerset County
Kennebec Valley Community College Structural Repairs
Recipient: Kennebec Valley Community College
Project Location: Fairfield, ME
Amount Requested: $515,000
Project Purpose: Structural repairs to two buildings on campus that are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Student Support and Student Success Center
Recipient: Kennebec Valley Community College
Project Location: Fairfield, ME
Amount: $145,000
Purpose: To increase student access to academic supports, centralize and strengthen advising services, and enhance technology support for students and faculty. This project will improve student degree and credential completion outcomes.
York County
Welding Training Facility Expansion
Recipient: York County Community College
Project Location: Wells, ME
Amount Requested: $1,500,000
Project Purpose: To expand and renovate an existing Welding Training Facility at the York County Community College Sanford Instructional Center. This upgraded facility will include a state-of-the-art welding instruction lab and classroom.
