The programs of MidCoast Adult Education 7 have been awarded a competitive Strengthening Maine’s Workforce grant to deliver services under the project title, Bridge to Employment in the Midcoast. This grant works to enhance capacity in our existing adult education programs while growing to meet the needs of those adults eligible to be served and to bridge their needs with midcoast employers who have also been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. By working from both sides of the employment gap, these resources aim to build connections throughout the midcoast for individuals and businesses.
Bridge to Employment in the Midcoast programs, courses, resources, and collaborations are available for those who need support systems to access employees; and to potential employees who show a training need and are defined as:
- People or communities of color,
- Low-income, Immigrants,
- People with low levels of literacy,
- Women,
- The underemployed and unemployed.
Bridges to healthcare training, hospitality/retail employment, and manufacturing training will focus on workforce training in collaboration with employers. Existing programs will be expanded, and new programs will be developed and implemented with significant input from area employers. Bridge or gap funding will be provided to eligible students who don’t already meet eligibility requirements through other sources.
The bridge to employment for immigrants will focus on the goal of workforce training but will also be directed towards developing and providing English language acquisition services. A hub-wide training for multilingual learner conversation partner volunteers will be developed and provided as a means of sustainable capacity building.
These services will further aid workforce training and English language acquisition students by providing financial support in areas of transportation, childcare, and training costs not covered under WIOA partner and DHHS financial resources. These supports may include gas cards, taxi vouchers, on-site childcare, childcare reimbursement, and training scholarships for students while attending adult transitions or college transitions classes, certification programs, or on-the-job training programs. In addition, earn-as-you-learn incentives may be offered to those eligible students who do not qualify for employer or grant-sponsored coverage of their time that would otherwise be spent working to support themselves and their families.
Bridge to Employment Grant Coordinator Contact Information
The Bridge To Employment Grant Coordinator is Joe Catalano. He may be reached at: joseph.catalano@fivetowns.net or 904-718-1574.
Academic Coordinators and WIOA partners may submit a referral through this FORM.
