Jobs for Maine’s Graduates, a nonprofit based in Augusta, is taking its career credentialing program to a bigger audience with the launch of a national nonprofit called Generation US.
Serving more than 13,000 students annually, JMG teams with public education and private businesses to offer results-driven solutions to ensure all Maine students graduate, attain postsecondary credentials and pursue meaningful careers.
With GenUS, Jobs for Maine’s Graduates aims to build on 30 years of success in Maine to tackle workforce and demographic challenges on a broader scale.
Craig Larrabee, the former president and CEO of Jobs for Maine’s Graduates, will lead GenUS as its first CEO.
“Many states are facing the same demographic cliff: fewer young people, fewer workers, a talent pipeline that a four-year degree alone was never built to fill,” Larrabee said.
“Our model connects schools, employers and colleges around shared outcomes and puts verifiable, employer-recognized credentials in the hands of every student, not just the ones headed to college. GenUS exists to make that proof actionable for every state that’s ready.”
In a statement emailed to Mainebiz, he said that GenUS will offer professional development to educators so they can understand and award micro-credentials to students.
As the network grows, the organization anticipates expanding its base of trainers and employers, he noted.
Policy brief planned
As part of the launch, JMG and GenUS plan to convene education, business and philanthropic leaders at L.L.Bean’s headquarters in Freeport after elections in November to create a policy brief for Maine’s next governor.
“Credentials should be built on durable, real life skills that can be demonstrated — enabling learners to easily indicate what they’re capable of and lead to real opportunity,” said Kimberley Acker Lipp, president and CEO of Jobs for Maine’s Graduates.
“That is our mission in Maine, and with building the 2030 Framework, our work here continues to ensure every Mainer has the pathway they need to achieve success,” she added.
She told Mainebiz that as demand has grown for innovative skills-based solutions, Gen US was created in part to bring best practices and tools to significantly more students in Maine and nationwide.
More about JMG
Jobs for Maine’s Graduates, staffed by around 175 employees, operates more than 150 programs across Maine. The company has an annual revenue of $20.7 million, according to the 2025 Mainebiz Giving Guide based on data from GuideStar.
