A $300,000 seed investment over the next three years will support startup costs for the Rural Youth Institute, an incubator established to help high school graduates achieve their higher education and career goals.
The money comes from the Bethesda, Md.-based Peter Alfond Foundation, founded in 1993 to invest in innovative education and wellness opportunities. Peter Alfond grew up in Maine and was the son of Harold Alfond, founder of the Dexter Shoe Co. in Dexter.
The Rural Youth Institute originates from the Portland-based Rural Futures Fund’s Aspirations Incubator.
“Our relationship with the Peter Alfond Foundation is not just a collaboration; it’s a partnership founded on the shared conviction that we can create a more empowered future for Maine’s youth,” said Don Carpenter, board chair of the Rural Youth Institute.
According to the fund, 90% of the Aspirations Incubator’s 2023 high school graduates are now attending a two- or four-year college or pursuing career credentials.
The Rural Youth Institute is designed to build on the foundation of the Aspirations Incubator’s long-term youth mentoring model, and also to leverage training programs, learning labs, research initiatives, and advocacy to enhance the capacity of youth-serving organizations across Maine.
“The launch of the Rural Youth Institute marks an important leap forward for Maine’s youth-serving organizations as they empower young people statewide to thrive,” said Adam Burk, Peter Alfond Foundation’s executive director for New England.
