Need a job or a better job?

You may be eligible for services and supports to help you achieve your employment and/or educational goals.

QUEST can help with, but not limited to, the following:

This is a graphic showing education and training, apprenticeships, childcare, and transportation.

QUEST is a dislocated worker grant (DWG) created in direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, many employment sectors were negatively affected and many individuals lost their jobs.

The grant can help workers reach their employment or educational goals by providing help with services and supports such as childcare, transportation, education and training, and apprenticeships.

QUEST has a specific focus on the care economy, green energy, and infrastructure, but is very broad so that many workers can take advantage of it.

Eligibility for QUEST is broad. Individuals are eligible if:

  • You lost your job due to COVID-19
  • You have been unemployed for 15 of the last 52 weeks (consecutive or non-consecutive)
  • You are a dislocated worker (i.e., you lost your job through no fault of your own)
  • You are a self-employed individual who is unemployed or significantly underemployed
  • You are employed part-time or employed for less than 30 hours per week
  • You are employed in a job that is inadequate with respect to your skills, experience, training, and the level of educational credentials attained at the time of eligibility determination

There are several population groups that QUEST will serve. They include the following:

  • Low wage workers
  • Racial and ethnic minorities
  • Individuals in recovery from substance abuse disorder
  • Women with dependent care challenges
  • Individuals with disabilities
  • Immigrants and refugees
  • Young adults aged 20-24
  • People without a high school diploma or GED
  • Justice involved individuals who will be released within 12 months

If you feel that you do not fit neatly into one of the above categories, please still contact your local service provider below. You might still be eligible for QUEST or for another program that is available.

To enroll in the QUEST grant and receive supports and services to help you on your way to a better job, contact the following organizations:

  • Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Washington, Androscoggin, Franklin, Kennebec, Oxford and Somerset Counties:
    Loretta Alley, 207-991-0147, workforce@emdc.org
    www.emdc.org