AUGUSTA – The Maine Community College System and The Associated General Contractors of Maine (AGC Maine) are partnering to launch a four-week, hands-on construction training program across the state to prepare Maine adults for careers in the construction trades. 

The Maine Construction Academy Immersion Programs, managed by AGC Maine and funded by MCCS’s Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce, will launch next year at five community colleges.

A certified pre-apprenticeship program, students are to receive hands-on training, industry-recognized credentials, and direct connections to employers. Graduates will be qualified to enter high-value registered apprenticeships or pursue certificate or degree programs to advance along career pathways within Maine’s growing construction industry.

The Maine Construction Academy Immersion Programs will launch at:

• Central Maine Community College (CMCC) in Auburn, on March 3, 2026
• Northern Maine Community College (NMCC) in Presque Isle, on March 16, 2026
• Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) in Fairfield, on May 11, 2026
• Eastern Maine Community College (EMCC) in Bangor, on May 13, 2026
• Washington County Community College (WCCC) in Calais, on May 18, 2026

Funding from the Alfond Center comes from private philanthropic support and Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan funding. The program will be offered at no cost to trainees.

“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.

The program is a result of a statewide Construction Industry Workforce Partnership launched in March 2025 by the Alfond Center and which includes over 50 stakeholders from the construction industry, trade associations, union, education, and workforce development systems.

The group collaborates to develop workforce training strategies to strengthen the skilled construction and trades workforce. (10/12/25 press release).

The launch of the Maine Construction Academy Immersion Program across five community colleges is one of the strategies developed to address workforce shortages in Maine’s construction industry. Other programs under development include new short-term training programs in carpentry, heavy equipment operation, and HVAC skills. For more information on construction and trades programs at the community colleges, visit Construction Career Training in Maine

“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.” 

The Maine Construction Academy Immersion Program reflects a shared commitment among AGC Maine, MCCS, and the Alfond Center to strengthen Maine’s workforce pipeline, expand access to quality training, and support the next generation of construction professionals.

Apply for the program here.