About Us

The Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce coordinates all short-term workforce training programs for Maine’s community colleges, working closely with business and industry leaders, trade associations, higher education, third-party trainers, and community organizations statewide.

Launched in 2021, the Alfond Center served over 30,000 Mainers in its first two years of operation. A new, historic gift of $75.5 million from the Harold Alfond Foundation, made in June of 2025, will enable the Center to train an additional 70,505 Mainers by 2030, significantly impacting Maine’s workforce and economy through strategic private and public partnerships.

The Harold Alfond Center supports workforce development through:

  1. Pre-Hire Training: Offering no-cost short-term workforce programs throughMaine’s seven community colleges to equip students with the skills needed to enter the workforce immediately.
  2. The Maine Workforce Development Compact: Providing employers with up to $1,200 per frontline worker annually for professional development and training, helping employees advance and making businesses more competitive.
  3. Scholarships for Working Adults: Supporting employees to continue their training and pursuecertificates or two-year degrees at Maine’s community colleges, empowering career growth.









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About MCCS

The Maine Community College System is Maine’s comprehensive two-year public college system—dedicated to offering an affordable and accessible college education and building a quality workforce for Maine.

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MCCS Colleges

Discover some of the outstanding state colleges we proudly partner with.

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About the Foundation

The Foundation for Maine’s Community Colleges is dedicated to ensuring that the state’s community colleges have the resources they need to provide a high quality, affordable, and accessible college education for Maine people. Learn more by contacting: The Foundation for Maine’s Community Colleges.

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Compact Members

The Maine Workforce Development Compact (MWDC) is a collaboration led by the Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce, the short-term training division of the Maine Community College System, and focuses on addressing the state’s skilled worker shortage. Through strategic investments and partnerships, MWDC supports Maine’s workforce by enhancing the skills of frontline workers. Our shared mission is to empower frontline workers with opportunities for advancement while helping employers succeed in today’s competitive market.