Nonprofits team up to sell grads on staying in Maine
Courtesy / Nate Wildes, LinkedIn
Nate Wildes is executive director of Live + Work in Maine, which has joined forces with Educate Maine in a pilot program that aims to keep college grads in Maine.
Two workforce development groups have banded together in an effort to convince college students to stay in Maine — and most importantly its labor pool — after graduation.
The pilot program, led by nonprofits Live + Work in Maine and Educate Maine, targets students at the University of Maine, Husson University in Bangor and the University of Southern Maine in Portland with messages about all the Pine Tree State has to offer.
The groups say they will work with a team of paid student interns on each campus to distribute T-shirts, stickers and materials about Maine employers, and will coordinate meet-and-greet opportunities with employers.
“In partnering with Educate Maine, our goal is to ensure every college student is aware of internship opportunities and to live and work here after graduation,” said Nate Wildes, executive director of Live + Work in Maine, in a news release. “Even if they choose to leave Maine at first, we need to ensure they have the awareness and tools to know that there’s opportunities for them here should they choose to return.”
Jason Judd, executive director of Educate Maine, added: “We want to expose students to Maine-based internship opportunities while they are in school, and make sure they know about the many career opportunities available to them through Maine employers when they graduate."
The groups will work closely with UMaine alumnus Spencer Wood, founder of the Tip Whip ride-sharing app for college students, with plans to expand to USM and other campuses in Maine.
“By partnering with innovative startups like Tip Whip, we can reach this audience in an efficient way, and support this Maine-based start-up at the same time,” said Ed McKersie, advisory board chairman of Live + Work in Maine. “It’s a captive audience, and fits our target demographic perfectly.”
On Wednesday, Live + Work in Maine joined Portland marketing agency Shamrock Sports & Entertainment and other partners in announcing the launch of Maine's first professional golf tournament in over 25 years. The Live + Work in Maine Open is intended to bring national attention to the state as a career destination, and is scheduled for June 2020 as part of the Korn Ferry Tour.
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