What is the Maine Career Exploration Program?

Written by Kay Kerina | Jul 21, 2023 7:06:03 PM

The Maine Career Exploration program is a $25 million, two-year initiative and part of the Governor’s Maine Jobs & Recovery 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. Maine Career Exploration will connect 6,000 young people in Maine to future career opportunities by funding paid work experiences with employers across the state.

Through these paid work experiences, the Maine Career Exploration program will enable thousands of students to enter the labor force in fields of their interest through work opportunities with Maine employers. In addition to work experience, students may also earn education credits through the program.

The Maine Career Exploration program is a recommendation of Maine’s 10-year Economic Development Strategy (PDF), unveiled by Governor Mills in 2019, to support Maine’s goal of adding 75,000 workers to Maine’s workforce by 2030. The program is led by the Department of Economic and Community Development in partnership with the Department of Education, the Department of Labor, and the Governor’s Children Cabinet.

The Maine Career Exploration Program allows Maine employers and students to work together to strengthen Maine’s workforce. By providing students with career experiences, businesses can educate and attract Maine’s youth to their industries, creating potential recruitment prospects, a pipeline of possibility for the state’s economic future, and demonstrate to our youth that there is opportunity for them in Maine!

Maine Career Exploration will introduce thousands of Maine students to future employment options and prepare them to succeed in careers right here in Maine, strengthening our workforce over the long term and supporting our business communities.

Our Program Values

ESTABLISH	PREPARE	INVEST	CONNECT
The Maine Career Exploration program will establish age-appropriate programs that allow for students to explore career opportunities in line with their individual interests and create the framework for paid internships that provide on-the-job learning and training.	We will prepare Maine students with the knowledge, skills and abilities that are aligned with the growth of the digital economy, expanding economic mobility for residents.	We will invest in the educational system and our future workforce with short- and long-term goals to improve outcomes for students in kindergarten and beyond high school graduation.	The mission of the Maine Career Exploration program is to connect students and their families to the Maine economy and to create a pipeline of talent for businesses of all sizes and sectors.

Are you an Employer or Organization looking to connect young people in Maine to opportunities at your workplace?

We are looking for Maine businesses wanting to be involved with Maine Career Exploration! We can pay up to 75 hours for a student’s work experience with your company – to learn more, simply fill out the Employer Sign Up form linked below.

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