If this disturbing trend is not reversed, there will be few young people to fill in the labor market after Maine's baby boomers retire. Clearly, there is no panacea to solve this multifaceted problem overnight. We can slowly alter the trend, however, if we encourage the growth of course offerings that complement the labor market needs of our economy. United Technologies Center (UTC) leads the way in this area. Enrolling hundreds of students each year, UTC provides vital vocational education for residents of the greater Bangor Area. UTC tailors its courses to the diversified economy of the greater Bangor region.
More than a year ago, I toured the United Technology Center at the invitation of its outstanding director, Gregg Miller. I've long been a strong supporter of vocational education, and I was extremely impressed with the quality of the faculty, the facility, and the course work offered at UTC.
During the tour, I spoke with a teacher, Bob Clukey, who had a vision for a new program at UTC, a program that would offer new skills in a rapidly growing technical field. It offered the promise of a wide range of good jobs — in the field of photonics, which has been called "the technology of the 21st century." Photonics concerns the generation, manipulation, transport, detection, and use of light energy through its quantum unit, the photon. Photons transport light energy and carry information through fiber optic cable and can retrieve information in laser, radar, and other sensor devices. Common applications of photonics include bar scanners at the grocery store, laser eye surgery, compact disk players, and the thermal imaging cameras which are so helpful to our fire departments. Other applications play a critical role in manufacturing, health care, sensing devices, telecommunications, and defense operations.
I told Gregg I was fascinated with the idea, and wanted to help UTC realize this dream by pursuing a special appropriation for UTC for the implementation of this amazing program. I lobbied my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to earmark $400,000 for the project. It passed the Senate but was not included in the House bill. I prevailed upon the conferees to keep the funding in the final bill, and I am delighted to announce that earlier this month, the President signed the Appropriations Bill for the Department of Labor, the final step in my quest to secure $400,000 for UTC's Photonics Training Pilot Program.
UTC's pilot program will introduce a photonics curriculum in the regional technical high school for the purpose of training students in the growing field of photonics. Through the program, UTC will work closely with local businesses, tailoring the curriculum to ensure that it provides a technical education that will serve as the foundation for future career development. Local businesses will assist with the program's rigorous evaluation component as well. UTC will communicate its regional efforts to the global business community to attract additional photonics employers to the area.
The program will provide training to area eleventh and twelfth grade high school students and adults through UTC's extensive continuing education program, accounting for approximately 60 percent of its student population and includes a segment of dislocated workers.
I have no doubt that the money will be carefully spent. UTC is famous for its ability to stretch a dollar, and with its talented staff and dedicated student body, I am confident they will be leaders in photonics, giving the students terrific skills to obtain great jobs right here in Maine.