WASHINGTON, D.C. – University of Maine at Farmington officials were excited to learn Tuesday afternoon that funding for an on-the-job education program had cleared the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee, a key step toward eventual approval.
The announcement was made by Senator Susan Collins, a ranking member of the subcommittee, who had supported the $550,000 in federal funding for UMF’s Western Maine Rural Small Business Initiative. The funding, along with the rest of the 2011 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill, would need to be approved by the full appropriations committee before consideration in the general Senate.
According to UMF’s Mary Sylvester, director of alumni relations and university advancement, Collins had worked with UMF officials for months prior to the vote.
“We’re extremely grateful to Sen. Collins for her work on this,” Sylvester said.
The funds would support the university’s internship program, which pairs students with businesses in order to provide both experience and a preview into a field the student had expressed interest. Specifically, the money would be made available to small businesses and organizations to give them the flexibility to provide training, support and guidance for interns. Officials believe this would open up several fields for UMF students, ones previously closed due to the inherent expense of placing students.
Sylvester sees this as a win-win; the UMF students get experience in a wider range of businesses and organizations, while those institutions benefit from the energy and special expertise of the students.
“It’s a good combination,” Sylvester said. “[This funding] would strengthen and expand the program.”
Collins agreed, noting that the funds would both support development of students and small businesses in western Maine.
“Small businesses are the backbone of Maine’s economy,” said Collins, in a prepared statement. “This funding will encourage further economic development and help create much-needed jobs in Western Maine.”
There would be an application process of some sort attached to the funds, Sylvester said, but that no firm plans were being announced give the preliminary nature of the announcement.
