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CENTRAL WESTERN MAINE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD

The Central Western Maine Workforce Development Board (CWMWDB) provides oversight, stewardship, and administers WIOA Title 1B Adult, Dislocated Worker and Youth funding for Androscoggin, Franklin, Kennebec, Oxford, and Somerset Counties. Eastern Maine Development Corporation (EMDC) is the region’s contracted service provider in partnership with Community Concepts, Inc. Both EMDC and CCI operate at regional CareerCenters and also offer alternative meeting spaces for the convenience of participants, to include virtual office hours. The CWMWDB works closely with many regional and statewide partners, especially the Maine Department of Labor.

WIOA is the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, landmark legislation that is designed to strengthen and improve our nation’s public workforce system. WIOA helps thousands of individuals, including those with significant barriers to employment, to prepare for high-quality jobs. WIOA also assists employers with services and funding to hire and retain skilled workers.

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Lewiston Adult Education received the Community Partner of the Year Award from Eastern Maine Development Corporation during its annual meeting on Thursday, December 7. EMDC’s Director of Workforce Services in the central western Maine region, Patti Saarinen, was on hand to present the award.

“Lewiston Adult Education has been a partner with Workforce Services for many years,” said Patti, “so long, in fact, that I do not remember a time when we didn’t work together. Not only do they provide excellent academic and occupational skills training, but they were one of the first adult education programs to embrace workforce services.”

Patti went on to describe a collaboration that they developed to create a cohort training to meet the needs of five construction companies. This model of employer-driven training was the first in the state and remains a staple of the types of training opportunities EMDC continues to offer to this day, one that meets the needs of employers, job seekers, and the community.

”As the WIOA Service Provider in central/western Maine, EMDC is very appreciative of Lewiston Adult Education’s assistance with CASAS testing, referrals, collaboration on mutual customer outcomes, and willingness to explore new opportunities,” stated Patti. “We are grateful to have such a wonderful group of people to work with and proud to present Jen, Razell and their whole team our Community Partner of the Year award.”

First row: (from left to right) Marianne, Josee Castonguay, Patti, Jen, Karen Paquette, Razell

Second Rowe: Mike Reagan, Bill Grant, Jen Brown, Gerry Gibson, Fatma Saad

Success Stories

Adult Program Success Story Elmet Technologies hired three graduates, all WIOA Adults, from the most recent NTI Manufacturing Technician program. This is significant because the level of precision skills necessary to work at Elmet is fairly high. One of the new employees chosen was Augusto M. Augusto supports a family of seven and...

Youth Program Success Story A youth, Gloria, from Somerset Co. recently completed the 21st Century Youth program which provides work readiness, academic skills, and work experience to youth with multiple barriers. Gloria was homeless, had limited work experience, and issues that made it difficult to pursue education or employment. She completed all components of...

Dislocated Worker Success Story Our service provider enrolled a 68-year-old man who was displaced from Verso in 2017. He attended UMA for two years studying Social Services and he achieved his degree in Dec, 2019. He since has started working at Assistance Plus in Wilton for 24-30 hours a week at $13.50. He...

Central Western Maine Workforce Initiatives activities are funded by USDOL funds including WIOA Title IB, National Emergency, H1-B and Discretionary Funds. We are an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.