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Maximize Your Investment in Employee Training
Employee Training Support:
Dirigo Business Incentives & the Harold Alfond Center's Workforce Development Compact
Maine businesses now have an even more powerful way to stretch every training dollar. The Maine Department of Economic and Community Development's Dirigo Business Incentive and the Harold Alfond Center's Workforce Development Compact can be combined to maximize savings on employee training, upskilling, and professional development.
Together, these programs help employers strengthen their workforce, improve retention, and reduce training costs through reimbursements and tax credits.
How much you ask? Up to $3,200 per frontline worker!
Watch: How the Dirigo Business Incentive and Compact Work Together
Join Shae McGehee, Economic Development Incentives Manager from the Maine Department of Economic & Community Development and Charlie Collins, Executive Director of the Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine's Workforce.
How it Works
Eligible Maine employers in key industries - such as manufacturing, agriculture, forestry, transportation, software, engineering, and scientific services - can qualify for both Compact reimbursement and Dirigo tax credits when they invest in employee training.
Businesses can:
- Partner with Maine's community colleges on short-term or customized training
- Receive 50% reimbursement on frontline employee training costs, up to $1,200, through the Compact
- Earn up to a $2,000 per-employee tax credit through the Dirigo Business Incentive
Together, this means businesses could significantly offset training costs!
To get started, a business must:
- Join the Compact (no cost)
- Submit a Compact funding request for approval
- Apply for Dirigo certification online
- Implement training once you have Compact approval and Dirigo certificate
- Receive Compact reimbursement when training concludes (50% up to $1,200 per employee per year)
- Claim Dirigo credits ($2,000 per employee per year) on your Maine income tax filing
Get Started with the Dirigo Business Incentive
Eligible employers can apply directly through the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).
To be eligible, a business must be in one of the following sectors:
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing
- Manufacturing
- Long-distance freight transportation
- Software publishing, data processing, and computer design services
- Engineering and architecture
- Scientific research and development services
Get Started with the Maine Workforce Development Compact
Join the Maine Workforce Development Compact - a free source from Maine's community colleges and the Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine's Workforce.
As a Compact member, you can receive up to $1,200 per employee in matching funds for training and professional development. Join the 2,000 Maine employers who utilize this program to strengthen their teams. Applying takes just two minutes!
Training is completely employer-driven and can take place at Maine's community colleges, through an in-house training, or with a third-party training vendor of your choice.
Questions or Need Assistance?
Dirigo Business Incentive
Email Shae McGhee at shae.mcghee@maine.gov
Maine Workforce Development Compact
Our Workforce Development Coordinators are here to help you design and fund your next training plan.
Contact us or fill out an inquiry form to maximize your training investment in your workforce.
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 statewide. Launched in 2021, the Alfond Center has served over 47,000 Mainers. A historic $75.5 million, five-and-a-half year initiative 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.