COURTESY OF THE ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF MAINE
Regardless of which sector of commercial construction you turn to, there are investments being made in our state’s infrastructure. With sustainable funding in our transportation budget, Maine’s roads and bridges are on that list. The increased focus on clean energy and alternative fuels also creates a need for more workforce. Lastly, we would be remiss not to mention the housing needs that will likely result in more large-scale housing projects hitting the scene in the coming years. All of these demands on Maine’s construction workforce mean long term, high wage careers for those who are interested in the trades.
The Associated General Contractors of Maine (AGC Maine) has placed itself in the center of this workforce growth to support their members, who are the hard-working companies building these projects. In 2022, AGC Maine launched the Maine Construction Academy, a unique learning experience that brings together industry, K-12 education, higher education, their workforce development teams, and local workforce boards and service providers. This collaboration will be critical to filling the future workforce needs in Maine.
The Maine Construction Academy piloted the Construction Immersion program in four communities during the summer of 2023. The program provided basic work-ready certifications and multiple craft exposures through meaningful hands-on experience and job site visits with contractors. At the completion of this four-week paid program, participants were offered guaranteed interview opportunities with Maine companies, where they will move on to either a post-secondary education or a registered apprenticeship program. The mission is to connect job seekers with the relevant connections and education necessary to be successful in their chosen path while also serving the industry with a direct opportunity to recruit their future workforce.
The pilot program was so successful that in 2024 a total of 15 programs are scheduled across the state. Programs are spread across locations in eight counties. The northernmost location being Caribou.
“We are incredibly excited to bring the Construction Academy to Aroostook County this year,” says Executive Director Kelly Flagg. “We have known for a long time that the northern part of our state needs help keeping our young people local after graduation, but to do that, we have to be able to show them opportunity to build a life of their own. This program can help open their eyes to work opportunities that they may not know exist, with wages that will sustain a family.”
“The personal growth I see in these students from day one to the end of the program is amazing. This is exactly what some of these individuals need,” says Kevin Napolillo, Extended Learning Opportunity Coordinator with Brewer High School and Instructor for the Brewer High School location of the Maine Construction Academy. “We are honored to offer this program to our students and can’t say enough how positive of an experience it has been both for us and for the students. We have two who are completing their senior year of high school while working full time as apprentices. It is life changing for these young people.”
For more information on the Maine Construction Academy programs visit buildingmaine.com.
