BANGOR, Maine — A Bangor-based organization is helping Mainers leaving incarceration or in recovery from substance use disorder find jobs.
Eastern Maine Development Corporation is increasing these efforts after receiving a $485,000 grant from the Maine Department of Labor.
"This is gonna amplify all the work we currently do but bring a laser focus to help people who need just a little extra," Lee Umphrey, president and CEO of EMDC, said.
EMDC's goal is to support at least 100 new job seekers and connect them with 25 new employers.
"We've helped hundreds of people in the last couple of years. In fact, we've hired some people who have been recently incarcerated or had substance abuse issues, and that's really been key, having peers, people who have lived the experience help others," Umphrey said.
The company is using a "progressive employment" model, offering a gradual approach to work, easing people into full-time employment.
"The idea of progressive employment is that everybody is ready for something," Kathryn Maynard, a workforce development specialist at Bangor CareerCenter, said.
Maynard helps folks develop their career goals, train, and prepare for interviews.
She said they'll be able to better serve people with this grant.
"We can assist people getting that immediate placement, that immediate employment, but really our long-term goal is to get people out of poverty," Maynard said.
They also want to show businesses that it's worth taking a chance on people who have faced adversity.
"Businesses of all sectors are looking for workers, so we're trying to be the pipeline of good quality workers to the businesses," Umphrey said.
Maine is the state with the oldest population in the country, so the labor market is tight. The Maine Department of Labor said it awarded EMDC the grant to fill those gaps in Maine's workforce.
"It's important for us to recognize that there's a place for everyone in Maine's economy and that we think that everyone can start work somewhere," Maine Department of Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman said.
"What we're trying to do is instill in people some inspiration, some hope, that there can be success," Umphrey said.
If you're interested in enrolling in progressive employment, you can click the link here for more information.