Maine is among three states receiving federal money to develop a new information technology system for its unemployment insurance program.
The Maine Department of Labor will receive $10 million to replace its current unemployment information system with a cloud-based infrastructure, according to a press release.
The three-state consortium will use a system developed in Mississippi as a starting point, the release states, and another $1.5 million will be directed to Maine to boost two existing programs, including the State Information Data Exchange System and a video tutorial library covering unemployment insurance topics and job-hunting tips.
The SIDES system will debut in two phases over the next six months, the release states, and will include a way for employers and payroll companies to submit and respond to unemployment insurance information requests online.
The department says the online system can reduce the need for follow-up phone calls and paperwork for participating employers.
Maine, Mississippi and Rhode Island were selected to participate in the federal grant program totaling $90 million.
