AUGUSTA – The Maine Community College System and The Associated General Contractors of Maine are partnering to launch a four-week, hands-on construction training program across the state to prepare Maine adults for meaningful careers in the construction trades.
The Maine Construction Academy Immersion Programs, managed by AGC Maine and funded by MCCS’s Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce, will launch next year at five community colleges. A certified pre-apprenticeship program, students receive hands-on training, industry-recognized credentials, and direct connections to employers. Graduates will be qualified to enter high-value registered apprenticeships or pursue certificate or degree programs to advance along career pathways within Maine’s growing construction industry.
The Maine Construction Academy Immersion Programs will launch at:
Central Maine Community College in Auburn, on March 3, 2026
Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle, on March 16, 2026
Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield, on May 11, 2026
Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor, on May 13, 2026
Washington County Community College in Calais, on May 18, 2026
Funding from the Alfond Center comes from private philanthropic support and Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan funding. The program will be offered at no cost to trainees.
“We are proud to partner with AGC Maine to offer such a streamlined, low-barrier program that not only fast-tracks the number of skilled workers into Maine’s construction industry, it creates a way for graduates to move seamlessly into apprenticeships or ongoing training to launch their construction careers. Partnerships like this between employers and the Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce are critical to scaling opportunities and strengthening Maine’s talent pipeline,” said MCCS Chief Workforce Development Officer Dan Belyea.
This strategic partnership is a result of a statewide Construction Industry Workforce Partnership launched in March by the Alfond Center that includes over 50 stakeholders from the construction industry, trade associations, union, education, and workforce development systems. The group collaborates to develop workforce training strategies to effectively and efficiently strengthen the skilled construction and trades workforce. The launch of the Maine Construction Academy Immersion Program across five community colleges is just one of the strategies developed to address workforce shortages in Maine’s construction industry. Other programs under development include new short-term training programs in carpentry, heavy equipment operation, and HVAC skills. For more information on construction and trades programs at the community colleges, visit this page: Construction Career Training in Maine (https://alfondcenter.mccs.me.edu/construction).
“This partnership represents an exciting step forward for Maine’s construction industry and workforce development efforts,” said Kelly Flagg, executive director of AGC Maine. “The Maine Construction Academy Immersion Program gives participants a real-world introduction to the trades while connecting them directly to employers ready to hire. Together with the Maine Community College System and The Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce, we’re opening doors to rewarding, high-demand careers and helping to build the skilled workforce our state needs.”
Joan Dolan, director of apprenticeship & strategic partnerships at the Maine Department of Labor, shared her support for the initiative, “The Maine Department of Labor is proud to support the Maine Construction Academy as a certified pre-apprenticeship program that opens doors to meaningful careers in the skilled trades. Through this partnership with the Associated General Contractors of Maine, the Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce, and the Maine Community College System, we are building stronger pathways into registered apprenticeship — and a stronger future for Maine’s workforce.”
The Maine Construction Academy Immersion Program reflects a shared commitment among AGC Maine, MCCS, and the Alfond Center to strengthen Maine’s workforce pipeline, expand access to quality training, and support the next generation of construction professionals.
If you are interested in applying for the program, go to https://buildingmaine.com/immersion-program.
