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 The Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan is Governor Mills’ plan, approved by the Legislature, to invest nearly $1 billion in federal American Rescue Plan funds to improve the lives of Maine people and families, help businesses, create good-paying jobs, and build an economy poised for future prosperity. To learn more, visit the Jobs Plan website and subscribe to receive updates.
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On September 29, 2022, the Maine Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Economic & Community Development hosted a job fair in Brunswick, the third in a series of events to promote the Caring for ME program, which helps individuals explore careers, find job openings, and read stories that highlight the importance and meaningful nature of direct care and behavioral health work in Maine.
The Brunswick fair saw a record number of job seekers, with more than 150 individuals in attendance to interact with representatives from health care businesses and learn more about job opportunities. For more information on Caring for ME, and to explore career options in the health care field, interested parties can visit the newly-launched website, created with funding from the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan.
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The Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan website has launched a Jobs Plan Investment Dashboard to illustrate the reach and impact of the Jobs Plan throughout the state. The regularly-updated dashboard contains data about many Jobs Plan programs, focusing primarily on those that have provided direct grants. Visit the Jobs Plan website to view and interact with this new tool.
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 Forestry Recovery Initiative: The Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry has launched a second round of grants through the Forestry Recovery Initiative, which will award grants for loggers, foresters, lumber yards, and other members of Maine's forest products sector to help recover financial loss caused by the pandemic, develop new wood products, and upgrade infrastructure to strengthen supply chains and sell products to new markets. Applications are being accepted on the Maine Technology Institute's website through October 18, 2022.
Thrive Maine - Pandemic Recovery Business Loan Program: Maine's Department of Economic & Community Development has opened the Thrive Maine program, which will provide $58 million in forgivable loans to small businesses. Eligible Maine small businesses who experienced losses, increased costs, or market interruptions as a result of the pandemic may receive a forgivable loan of up to $2 million if selected. Awardees that follow program terms may have their loans fully forgiven over a four-year period. Applications are being accepted on the Finance Authority of Maine's website.
 Maine Industry Partnerships for Workforce Development: On October 3, 2022, the Department of Labor announced $3.5 million in grant awards to six Maine organizations as a part of the Maine Industry Partnerships for Workforce Development program. These funds will be used to develop initiatives to recruit and retain skilled workers who can meet the needs of businesses across the State of Maine. The program aims to create a pipeline of workers through structured career pathways within sectors that can continually provide businesses with employees and Maine people with good-paying job opportunities.
 Respite for ME - Family Caregiver Grants Pilot Program: On September 28, 2022, Governor Mills announced the launch of a two-year pilot program that provides grants of up to $2,000 to individuals caring for a family member at home. Respite for ME, managed by the Department of Health and Human Services in partnership with five of Maine’s Area Agencies on Aging. Applications are open now on the Department of Health and Human Services website.
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RFA and RFP opportunities to collaborate with the State of Maine to deliver Jobs Plan programs
Modernize Digital Delivery of Public Services - Learning Management System: The Maine Department of Administrative & Financial Services is seeking proposals for an integrated, cloud-based Learning Management System (LMS) for use by the State of Maine and its professional partners. This could include a platform for content management, an authoring tool for training development, and a vendor’s existing library. Proposals are being accepted through November 2, 2022. More information and application instructions are available on the Division of Procurement Services website (RFP #202209148).
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