The Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan is Governor Mills’ plan, approved by the Legislature, to invest nearly $1 billion in federal American Rescue Plan funds to improve the lives of Maine people and families, help businesses, create good-paying jobs, and build an economy poised for future prosperity. To learn more, visit the Jobs Plan website

JOBS PLAN SPOTLIGHT

Governor Mills Announces $23 Million in Grants from Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan to Support Maine Technology Companies

On July 28, 2022, Governor Mills announced $23 million in grants to support 174 businesses in Maine's targeted technology sectors, including biotech, composites and advanced materials, forestry and agriculture, marine industries, precision manufacturing and more through the Pandemic Recovery for an Innovative Maine Economy (PRIME) Fund. These investments will help Maine technology companies recover from the pandemic, invest in new products and business lines, attract new customers, and create long-term economic growth.

FEATURED JOBS PLAN PROGRAMS

Thrive Maine Fund: On July 22, 2022, Governor Mills announced the "Thrive Maine" program, which will utilize $58 million from the Jobs Plan to provide forgivable loans to small businesses in Maine to support their continued economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Small businesses that experienced losses, increased costs, or market interruptions as a result of the pandemic are eligible for funding through Thrive Maine, and may apply for loans of up to $2 million. If businesses are approved and continue to meet program terms, loans may be fully forgiven over a four year period. Full eligibility details and other information can be found at www.famemaine.com/thrive. The program is expected to start accepting applications in early September. 

Workforce Transportation Pilot: The Maine Department of Transportation continues to seek proposals for the $5 million Workforce Transportation Pilot program, an initiative of Governor Mills’ Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, to pursue and develop transportation solutions that connect workers with employers across Maine. The program will provide competitive grants of up to $750,000 to local and regional partnerships to pilot ways to connect workers and employers through ridesharing, vanpools, and other subsidized transit options. Applications are currently being accepted on a rolling basis on the Department of Transportation's website.

Expansion of Rural Clinical Preceptorships and Rural Graduate Medical Education (GME) Programs: Maine's Department of Health and Human Services is now accepting applications from rural health care organizations to help recruit clinical preceptors to host students for clinical rotations, particularly for nursing and advance practice nursing programs. Additionally, this program will provide funding to establish new or expand existing Rural Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs, which aim to attract and retain physicians to practice in rural areas by increasing their experience in and relationship to rural communities. Applications are being accepted through October 11, 2022 on the Division of Procurement Services website (RFA #202206098).

Pre-Kindergarten Expansion Grants: The Maine Department of Education has opened a second round of funding for school administrative units (SAUs) to increase the number of 4-year-olds enrolled in public pre-k across the state. Recipients will be able to use the funding to start new pre-k programs and/or expand existing programs from part-day/part-week to full-day/full-week programs. Applications for this round are being accepted through October 13, 2022 on the Division of Procurement Services website (RFA #202207106).

Child Care Infrastructure Grants - Family-Based Grants: Maine's Department of Health and Human Services is now accepting applications for grants to help Mainers launch or expand child care businesses based in their homes. This funding could help support more than 3,500 new child care slots across Maine, enabling an estimated 2,000 parents to work or take classes while their children receive quality care. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis through Coastal Enterprises, Inc.

Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Fund: On July 19, 2022, Governor Mills announced the list of grantees for the Department of Transportation's Infrastructure Adaptation Fund, which will provide nearly $20 million to 13 communities to make critical investments to protect infrastructure from effects of climate change. Grant recipients will use this funding to address flooding along ocean and riverfronts, protect stormwater and wastewater systems, install culverts to reduce flooding; and ensure energy availability during extreme storms. 

Municipal Wastewater Infrastructure Grants: On July 25, 2022, Governor Mills announced the 27 grant recipients from the Department of Environmental Protection's $22 million Municipal Wastewater Infrastructure Grants program. This funding will be used to repair and replace wastewater infrastructure to improve operations, reliability, resiliency to climate effects, environmental impacts, and economic development.

DOING BUSINESS WITH THE JOBS PLAN

RFA and RFP opportunities to collaborate with the State of Maine to deliver Jobs Plan programs

Workforce Diversity for Impacted Industries - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Communities of Practice: Maine's Department of Economic & Community Development is seeking applications to fund local or regional Communities of Practice to design and execute a meaningful, impactful, and outcome-based action plan to support the economic recovery of at least one key industry through a diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging lens. Applications are being accepted through August 10, 2022. More information and application instructions are available on the Division of Procurement Services website (RFP #202205086).

Domestic Trade Pilot Program: Maine's Department of Economic & Community Development is seeking proposals for a program management contractor to assist the Office of Business Development with the development and implementation of the Domestic Trade Pilot Program to help Maine businesses with domestic trade. Proposals are being accepted through August 17, 2022. More information and application instructions are available on the Division of Procurement Services website (RFP #202207105).

Economic Recovery Implementation Hubs: Maine's Department of Economic & Community Development is seeking proposals to oversee, manage, and establish up to eight regional Economic Recovery Implementation Hubs to support the recovery of small businesses owned by Maine's racial, ethnic, and linguistic minorities, as well as new businesses. Proposals are being accepted through September 8, 2022. More information and application instructions are available on the Division of Procurement Services website (RFP #202206090).