The U.S. Department of Labor has allocated $2 million to Coastal Counties Workforce Inc. to aid workers affected by layoffs and business closures in Maine's coastal region. This funding is intended to support employment and training services for those impacted.
In 2024, companies across six coastal counties in Maine announced layoffs affecting over 1,177 workers. The job losses were primarily in the food service, manufacturing, and retail sectors. Notable employers involved included L.L. Bean Inc., onsemi, WEX Inc., along with several food service establishments and other small businesses, which experienced mass layoff events impacting 50 or more employees.
The grant is administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration under the National Dislocated Worker Grant program. It enables Coastal Counties Workforce Inc., a nonprofit that manages workforce services in parts of Maine, to offer retraining and skills development for dislocated workers in Cumberland, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Waldo, and York counties.
These grants are supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014. They provide funding for direct services in areas facing significant economic dislocation events where workforce needs surpass available resources.
