3 faculties will use almost $4 million to strengthen industries damage throughout pandemic
Maine has awarded three faculties and universities almost $4 million to offer companies and packages that may put together college students for jobs in industries hit exhausting by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thomas School and Husson College obtained $1,995,886 and $1,696,127, respectively. The College of New England secured $163,362, based on info supplied by the Maine Division of Training.
Colleges across the state utilized for the Greater Training Workforce grants, however the state chosen these three primarily based on a scoring system and proposals that clearly confirmed the establishments might tackle crucial wants in Maine’s workforce by advancing the state’s 10-year financial improvement strategic plan, amongst different elements.
The grants are a method Maine is collaborating with greater schooling establishments to rebuild its workforce and retain younger individuals because it recovers from the pandemic. A considerable variety of Mainers misplaced jobs through the shutdown, whereas others have been requested to proceed engaged on the frontline and grew exhausted, in some instances leaving their occupations.
Thomas, Husson and the College of New England will use the funds to assist college students getting ready to work in development, schooling, well being care and social help, manufacturing, tourism and some different industries.
They’re tasked with growing new or expanded certificates or diploma packages for these fields, based on the Maine Division of Training.
“These industries and sectors have skilled workforce challenges attributable to COVID-19, together with excessive charges of employment loss and unemployment,” info supplied by the division mentioned, additionally itemizing agriculture, fishing and forestry in addition to info and clear power fields.
The state additionally seemed for faculties that prioritize deprived college students, these with disabilities and teams akin to new Mainers and Black, Indigenous and folks of colour.
Thomas School introduced its almost $2 million award this week and pledged to assist make school inexpensive, particularly for low-income college students and people eligible for federal Pell grants. The funds present scholarship help, laptops and journey funds to college students.
Funds will assist undergraduate and graduate college students at Thomas in high-demand fields akin to cybersecurity, laptop science, schooling, felony justice and psychology, based on the school, although it didn’t tackle whether or not current packages would change or new ones could be supplied.
The faculty’s spokesperson was not instantly accessible to remark Friday.
“We wish our college students to have what they must be profitable,” Provost Thomas Edwards mentioned in a ready assertion. “This grant helps our college students in profession fields that in flip assist assist the financial way forward for the state of Maine.”
