The MaineLinks Newsletter

Weeks of July 1st and 8th, 2024

What to Know 

After a four-year closure and substantial renovations, the Maine State Aquarium reopened to the public during Boothbay Harbor’s Windjammer Days Festival. It will remain open through Labor Day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. The state-run aquarium closed in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained shuttered while undergoing nearly $1.1 million in renovations. Renovations include two new 1,300-gallon ecosystem tanks that are designed to look like the rocky coasts of Boothbay and Burnt Island and interactive exhibits that highlight the state’s efforts to protect and manage resources in the Gulf of Maine. The Department of Marine Resources, which operates the aquarium, also has rebranded its two Boothbay facilities as the Gulf of Maine Discovery Center.  This includes the aquarium, as well as a nearby classroom called the Learning Lab.

Veterans Corner

This year Maine’s Hire-A-Vet Campaign celebrates over 10 years of serving Veterans across the state.  The Planning Committee is already working hard to ensure yet another successful campaign.  Whether you are an employer or job seeker look forward to attending one or several upcoming events.

• August 15, 2024 | 10:30 am to 3:00 pm | Augusta Civic Center: Opening Ceremony and Hiring Event
• September 26, 2024 | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | University of Maine-Presque Isle: Inside Hiring Event
• October 17, 2024 | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | Poland Spring Conference Center: Inside and Outside Hiring Event
• November 22, 2024 | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | York County Community College: Inside Hiring Event

Employers contact Bradley Bean for registration information.

Training Talk

The OSHA Training Institute Education Center Region 1 is offering a Free Virtual Training and Q&A on the Major Changes in OSHA’s New Proposed Emergency Response Rule. OSHA has published its new proposed Emergency Response rule. The proposed rule modernizes and replaces OSHA's existing Fire Brigades standard, expanding it to include fire/rescue, Emergency Medical Services, and technical rescue. It will affect both workers with primary duties and those with collateral duties (workplace emergency response teams). Over two dozen consensus standards are being incorporated into the proposed rule. From new firefighting and PPE requirements, to EMS, to technical search and rescue, this rule change dramatically affects emergency response operations for private employers -- and for municipal emergency services in states with state OSHA plans.

Notable Quote:

“However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at” Stephen Hawking

Hiring Events: (Click on the “Hiring Events” link for full list)

• 7/10—Portland CareerCenter Wednesday Hiring Event
• 7/17—Andwell Health Partners Hiring Event Sponsored by the Presque Isle CareerCenter
• 7/26,7/27—General Dynamics/Bath Iron Works Hiring Events Sponsored by the Bangor CareerCenter

Workshops: (click on the “Workshops“ link for more)

Pre-register online for these virtual opportunities:

• 7/1— Manage Your Money presented by New Ventures Maine
• 7/8,7/9—Email Basics Workshop on site at the Northern Kennebec Valley Career Center

CareerCorner –July: Employment Specialist

An employment specialist works with both jobseekers and employers to match applicants with jobs and vice versa. Employment specialists may be responsible for helping jobseekers create and revise resumes, conducting mock interviews, collecting and analyzing labor market information, running workshops, organizing hiring events, and working with specific demographics such as veterans or people with disabilities. Employment specialists should have strong written and verbal communication, organizational, and collaborative skills. Most employment specialists require a high school diploma or equivalent, and some require a bachelor’s degree.

And MORE!

Maine Community College System (MCCS) offers affordable workforce training programs that are easily accessed through free short-term training, degree programs, certificate programs and advanced certificate programs. Through the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, MCCS will expand no-cost vocational training to Mainers seeking to improve their skills or career opportunities in Maine industries including health care, clean energy, manufacturing, hospitality, education, computer technology, and trades. Funding will support student tuition costs, the purchase of new equipment needed, and added staffing.

Did you miss the last newsletter? Ensure you subscribe for more updates from the Maine Department of Labor.

Maine Department of Labor and Maine CareerCenters provide equal opportunity in employment and programs. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request.