Commissioners to Visit Several Maine Programs Connecting Women with Construction Careers

August 12, 2024

For Immediate Release: August 12, 2025

Media Advisory

Commissioners to Visit Several Maine Programs Connecting Women with Construction Careers

AUGUSTA - This week, Commissioners Heather Johnson and Laura Fortman will participate in a series of events demonstrating a few of the ways Maine is fostering the goals of girls interested in construction, as well as connecting women to training and job opportunities in the field.

Women currently make up 15 percent of Maine's construction industry and only 11 percent of the industry nationally.

On May 6 - https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/news/governor-mills-signs-executive-order-increase-womens-employment-maines-construction-industry , Governor Mills signed an Executive Order - https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/official_documents/executive-orders/2024-05-executive-order-7-order-regarding-women-construction to improve the recruitment, training, and retention of women in Maine's construction industry. The Executive Order directs several state agencies to take a series of actions to better measure the shortage of qualified workers in the construction industry, connect women with industry employment opportunities, and pursue state and federal funding to incentivize the hiring of women.

Visit Details:

Tuesday, August 13:

Girls Build the Future Camp: Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Heather Johnson will be visiting Girls Build the Future - https://www.mainediscoverymuseum.org/post/girls-build-the-future , a free camp for ascending 6th to ascending 8th grade girls. Sponsored by the Maine Department of Community and Economic Development, this construction engineering summer camp provides opportunities to participate in hands-on design challenges, meet real-life engineers, and visit engineering workplaces to see what it would really be like to work in construction engineering.

• When: 1-2 p.m.
• Where: Sargent Construction at 3 Godfrey Drive, Orono, ME

Thursday, August 15:

Hire-A-Vet Campaign Kickoff: Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman will speak at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Hire-A-Vet Campaign - https://www.mainecareercenter.com/mhav/ . While campaign events are open to all job seekers, this year's campaign will have a special focus on connecting women veterans and military family members with careers in the trades. This is the kickoff of a series of statewide events. Results of last year's campaign can be found here.

• When: 10:30 a.m. ceremony, hiring event begins at 11 a.m.
• Where: Augusta Civic Center

Union Construction Academy of Maine Women in the Trades Graduation: Commissioner Fortman will also speak at the graduation of the first Union Construction Academy of Maine Women in the Trades program - https://maineaflcio.org/pre-apprenticeship , a pre-apprenticeship - https://www.maine.gov/labor/jobs_training/apprenticeship/ designed specifically for women interested in the trades.

This first cohort of this program will have nine graduates, who come from a variety of backgrounds. During the four-week program, pre-apprentices learned and earned certifications in OSHA 10 (basic safety training), First-Aid/CPR/AED, Flagging, Scaffolding (User), Confined Space Entry, Asbestos Awareness and Hazardous Waste Handling. The Women in the Trades program prepares women for quality careers in the union trades earning good wages and excellent benefits. Union apprenticeships allow apprentices to earn pay and benefits while developing valuable skills through on-the-job training and classroom instruction.

• When: Refreshments 5:30 p.m., ceremony 6 p.m.
• Where: IBEW 1253 building at 142 Elm St, Newport, ME