Grant provides support for Mainers seeking digital careers

Photo / Tim Greenway Jay Collier, founder and director of the University of New England Academy of Digital Sciences. The academy has been chosen as a learning provider by Coastal Counties Workforce Inc., which together with Educate Maine, received a $4 million U.S. Department of Labor TechHire grant to help people upgrade their skills in the digital age.

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By Staff

The University of New England Academy of Digital Sciences has been chosen as a learning provider by Coastal Counties Workforce Inc., which together with Educate Maine, received a $4 million U.S. Department of Labor TechHire grant to help people upgrade their skills in the digital age.

People participating in UNE’s accelerated digital sciences program may be eligible for tuition and other support services from CCWI to best position them for success.

CCWI’s TechHire grant aims to prepare 500 Maine people for careers in computing, digital and information technologies over four years. UNE’s academy, which was announced in December 2016, is Maine’s first accelerated professional certificate series covering a full-spectrum of digital skills that lead from curiosity to career. It was developed in collaboration with prominent Maine businesses — including IDEXX, WEX, Tyler Technologies and L.L.Bean — in order to serve as a bridge between Maine’s professional workforce and the explicitly stated needs of area employers.

The UNE program is poised to work with 80 students in 2017.

"The UNE Academy will help Maine people of all ages master the soft and hard skills to enter new professions and move up in their careers,” said Jay Collier, founder and director of the UNE Academy. "We're pleased to be doing our part to help Maine people, and the economy, thrive.”

Target group: Ages 17-29

The TechHire grant is targeted to help people ages 17-29 who have great potential in digital sciences but need supports such as additional career preparation, childcare or transportation. Returning veterans and those who are underemployed are also encouraged to apply.

CCWI’s Mike Bourret, executive director, said the grant will help young people and other workers throughout Maine increase their competencies in the field of information technology.

“It is also a great opportunity for Maine employers to increase their competitiveness by obtaining a skilled workforce,” he said.

Jason Judd, Project>Login director at Educate Maine, said the UNE Academy’s accelerated training program is a great opportunity and resource for TechHire participants who are “interested in attaining digital skills and quality employment."