Building Maine’s Infrastructure Workforce

Infrastructure Overview

Workforce Strategy

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and CHIPS and Science Act (CHIPS) will infuse billions of dollars into projects in Maine’s infrastructure sectors over the next several years – including clean energy, offshore wind, broadband, advanced manufacturing, and transportation and construction.
To execute these projects and meet its infrastructure and climate goals, Maine needs a bolstered workforce in key occupations relevant across these sectors.

Our workforce development approach centers on five key strategies for building a diverse pipeline for infrastructure jobs, focused on connecting underserved communities to training and career opportunities for high-wage, in-demand occupations.

BIL-Funded Projects

Interested in learning more about projects in Maine funded through the BIL? See the Governor’s Governor's Infrastructure Implementation Committee and the Future’s BIL dashboard to discover projects near you.

Awarded Workforce Funding

In total, Maine has received over $20m in federal funding to strengthen its infrastructure workforce. See below for recent announcements of awarded funding.

• National Governors Association selects Maine for initiative connecting youth volunteers to climate careers
• Press Release: Maine Governor's Energy Office Announces $65 Million Federal Grant to Prepare the Electrical Grid for More Renewable Energy
• Maine Governor’s Energy Office Awards $2 Million to Clean Energy Workforce Training Programs | Governor's Energy Office
• Solar for All | Governor's Energy Office (maine.gov)
• New program up-skills Mainers into Renewable Energy careers - Goodwill NNE

Upcoming Funding Opportunities

Sector-based Initiatives and Workforce Analysis

Women in Construction Executive Order

On May 6, 2024, Governor Janet Mills signed an Executive Order to improve the recruitment, training, and retention of women in Maine’s construction industry. The Governor’s Executive Order aims to alleviate Maine’s severe construction workforce shortage, particularly as the state is poised to utilize historic funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act to strengthen roads, bridges, broadband connectivity, and other vital infrastructure needs.

Jobseeker Resources

Infrastructure Training Inventory

Maine’s education and training providers offer a variety of training opportunities to build Maine’s workforce in key infrastructure sectors and occupations. Use the tool below to search for an illustrative list of short-, medium- and longer-term training available through the Maine Apprenticeship Program, Career and Technical Education, Adult Education, the Maine Community College System, and the University of Maine System. Follow the links to each provider to see their most up-to-date training offerings.

Clean Energy Jobs Network

Looking to dive deeper into opportunities in the clean energy sector? A wide array of skills can translate easily, and the Clean Energy Jobs Network can help you find training, access resources, and get the job that will launch your career. If you need help deciding which opportunity is right for you, contact the clean energy sector navigator to receive individualized guidance and support.

Maine CareerCenters and Apprenticeships

Maine CareerCenters are the place to start when you're looking for your first job, a better job, or a whole new career. Connect with your closest CareerCenter to learn more about upcoming training, hiring, and apprenticeship opportunities, along with support services you may be eligible for to assist with tuition, child care, transportation, housing, and health insurance. 

Employer Resources

Inflation Reduction Act Clean Energy Tax Incentives

On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed Public Law 117-369, 136 Stat. 1818, commonly known as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), into law. The IRA amended the Internal Revenue Code to add prevailing wage and Registered Apprenticeship (PWA) requirements for taxpayers constructing, and in some case performing alteration or repair, of qualified clean energy facilities, property, projects, or equipment to qualify for increased tax credit or deduction amounts. To learn more about relevant tax incentives and how to claim them, see the following IRS guidance on the IRA’s PWA requirements.

Maine Clean Energy Labor Law

At the state level, recent legislation established labor standards for firms constructing energy generating facilities in Maine. To learn more about Maine’s Apprenticeship in Energy Facility Construction (“Green New Deal for Maine”) and an Act Concerning Equity in Renewable Energy Projects and Workforce Development laws, see the following resource page from the Bureau of Labor Standards.

Employer Supports, Trainings, and Incentives

The Maine Department of Labor and its 12 CareerCenters provide a variety of employment and training services at no charge for Maine businesses. They assist all sizes of employers with recruiting, hiring, upskilling, workforce services, and access to labor market information, along with safety trainings to help prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. The Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) also offers a suite of financial incentives and resources available to businesses in infrastructure sectors relocating, expanding, or starting in Maine.