AUGUSTA — A major workforce development initiative is set to expand training access in Maine’s construction sector as the Maine Community College System (MCCS) and The Associated General Contractors of Maine (AGC Maine) join forces to launch an intensive construction training program across the state.
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The Maine Construction Academy Immersion Programs, developed and operated by AGC Maine and funded through MCCS’s Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce, will roll out in 2026 at five community colleges, offering adults fast-track pathways into high-demand skilled trades.
The four-week, certified pre-apprenticeship program is designed to prepare Maine residents for long-term careers by combining hands-on training with industry-recognized credentials and employer connections. Graduates will be qualified to enter registered apprenticeships or pursue additional certificates and degrees within Maine’s construction industry — a sector facing significant worker shortages.
The training will begin at the following campuses:
The initiative will be offered at no cost to trainees, supported through private philanthropy and funding from the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan.
The new effort adds momentum to the statewide Construction Industry Workforce Partnership launched in March 2025, which brings together more than 50 stakeholders representing union groups, contractors, trade associations, educators, and workforce agencies. The coalition focuses on boosting Maine’s skilled labor pool through scalable training models and targeted career pathways.
“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, in a news release.
AGC Maine echoed that message, emphasizing how direct employer connections and hands-on learning bridge the gap between education and industry hiring needs.
“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.”
Beyond the Immersion Programs, additional short-term training initiatives are being developed, including specialized instruction in carpentry, HVAC, and heavy equipment operation. These programs, along with future expansions, aim to support Maine’s growing need for trades professionals as construction demand increases statewide.
The partnership underscores a shared mission among AGC Maine, MCCS, and the Harold Alfond Center to strengthen Maine’s workforce pipeline and expand accessible pathways into skilled trades.
Originally reported by Augusta in Penn Bay Pilot.
