Central Western Maine Workforce Development Board

08/31/2026

Important Information for Maine's businesses. Please read and respond today if necessary.

Beginning in August, Maine Retirement Investment Trust (MERIT) will begin enforcing Maine's retirement savings law for employers that are required to comply but have not yet registered or certified an exemption.
Which employers are required to comply?
Maine law requires employers to register with MERIT if they:
* Have five or more employees
* Have been in business for two years
* Do not already offer a qualified employer-sponsored retirement plan
Employers that already offer a qualified retirement plan must certify their exemption.
What does enforcement look like?
Employers who do not register or certify an exemption will be assessed the following penalties:
• Businesses that fail to comply in their first year may be assessed a penalty of $20 per covered employee.
• Businesses that fail to comply for two years may be assessed a penalty of $50 per covered employee.
• Businesses that fail to comply for longer than two years may be assessed a penalty $100 per covered employee each year that they are not in compliance.
MERIT's goal is to help employers avoid these penalties by registering or certifying their exemption.
We encourage you to:
• Know that enforcement is beginning.
• Register with MERIT or certify your exemption as soon as possible.
• Reach out to our team if you have questions—we're happy to help.

If you have questions or would like informational materials, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,
The MERIT Team
Beth Bordowitz, Executive Director
Ariel Carron, Program & Communications Manager
207-888-4706

08/12/2026

Make your thoughts known!

08/11/2026

Kennebec Valley Council of Governments (KVCOG) is designated as the regional entity responsible for the development of the Kennebec Valley Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the region of Kennebec, Somerset and Western Waldo counties every 5 years. The CEDS provides a regional template for future economic development, describing the economic challenges and potential of the Kennebec Valley Region and prioritizing economic development projects.

As part of this process, the CEDS Committee reviews and updates the Priority Project List section of the CEDS for inclusion in the 5 year update. Proposed projects should align with the goals outlined in the CEDS in addition to EDA Investment Priorities. To submit your project for the CEDS Committee to consider for inclusion in the 2027 CEDS update, please complete the form toward the middle of this link by September 1, 2026.

Please click the link to complete this form.

08/11/2026

The Maine Affordability Payment Program was approved by the Maine Legislature to support Maine residents who are considered to be disproportionately affected by Maine sales and excise taxes.
The program is administered by Maine Revenue Services (MRS). MRS will issue $300 one-time affordability payments in late July to eligible recipients who filed 2025 taxes.
If you are a full-time resident and did not yet file taxes for 2025, you have until October 15, 2026 to file so that you can claim your affordability payment. Thanks to our CA$H coalition partners, you can reach out for help to a contact from the list below that is closest to you, even if you don't live in the immediate area. Many coalitions can provide assistance over the phone or will help you determine the best way to get help.
• Aroostook County CA$H: 207-764-3721
• CA$H Greater Portland: 207-347-2335
• Community CA$H Coalition of Western Maine: 207-739-6530
• Central Maine CA$H: 207-859-1632
• Midcoast Maine CA$H: 207-295-6340
• York County CA$H: 207-459-2899
You can also contact Maine Revenue Services directly:
• Online: https://www.maine.gov/revenue/affordability
• By Email: [email protected]
• By Phone, MRS has a hotline set up for the $300 checks: 207-624-9924
According to MRS, in order to qualify for the affordability payment, you must:
• File a Maine individual income tax return as a full-year resident for the 2025 tax year by October 15, 2026.
• Not be eligible to be claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s income tax return for the 2025 tax year.
• Report federal adjusted gross income for the 2025 tax year that is less than:
• $100,000 if married filing a joint return or a qualifying surviving spouse;
• $75,000 if filing as head of household; or
• $50,000 if single or married filing separately.
Note that if you had little or no income and did not file taxes, you can still file and you may be eligible for the one-time payment. See the CA$H Coalition contacts above and give the nearest contact a call or contact MRS directly.

08/05/2026

Six youth received an E-Bike last weekend to help them get to work. The bikes were purchased through a grant from the Central Western Maine Workforce Development Board and the youth are working with CWMWDB's provider, Eastern Maine Development Corporation. John at Rainbow Bicycle in Lewiston was a big help, and Thomas from the Bicycle Coalition of Maine facilitated an excellent training for the new E-Bike owners. Transportation continues to be a major barrier to employment. These bikes will help these six youth get to work--which helps our local businesses!

07/27/2026

Members of Maine’s workforce development team participated in Built Together: Growing and Celebrating the Trades, Friday, July 24 at Go Logic in Belfast. Erin Benson from the Central Western Maine Workforce Development Board, Sue LeClair from the Bureau of Employment Services, Amanda Dennison from the Maine Apprenticeship Program, and Kristine McCallister from the Department of Energy Resources discussed with individuals and businesses all the opportunities for workforce development services through the state. The event, co-hosted by Tradeswomen of Maine and Midcoast Climate Energy, featured a career and community fair, a panel conversation, and dance party. The panel, moderated by tradeswoman Kelly Sandman, included Danny Salomon of Second Story Builders; Michael Felton of the Grace Innovation Center; Alan Gibson of Go Logic; Dr. Elaine Harvey, the Innovation Center and Entrepreneurship Coordinator for Five Town Community School District; and Rachel Davis, Co-chair of Tradeswomen of Maine. The panel provided excellent insights of attracting more people, especially youth, to the trades and the evolution of and respect for tradespeople.

07/13/2026

The Union Construction Academy is offering a Metal Trades pre-apprenticeship training beginning August 3 in Clinton, ME. go here to fill out an application: These spots are competitive, so the QR code below to apply: https://maineaflcio.org/uca. This leads to a good paying job in a high demand occupation. Apply today!!!

Are you interested in a rewarding career with great pay and benefits? Do you appreciate the feeling you get after a hard-days work and a job well-done? Do you want to build new housing, improve aging infrastructure, and increase our supply of clean energy? Careers with Maine Building and Constructio...

06/14/2026

Are you a cheese lover? Two creameries in our region got nods in an article on centralmaine.com:
Kennebec Cheesery, 795 Pond Road, Sidney. kennebeccheesery.com
They specialize in goat cheeses made from the milk of dairy goats that graze in the pastures and hay fields at Koons Farm.
Their washed rind cow’s milk fontina, Old Speck, won Best in Show in the 2022 Maine Cheese Awards.
Crooked Face Creamery, 42 Court St., Skowhegan. crookedfacecreamery.com
Crooked Face took home a Super Gold medal at the World Cheese Awards in Switzerland last November for its plain whole milk ricotta, while their applewood smoked ricotta earned a bronze.
Two award-winning small businesses that make great cheese right in our backyard! Go get some!

06/12/2026

The executive director of the Central Western Maine Workforce Development Board had the privilege to judge a "pitch presentation" competition at the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge at Skowhegan HS. Sponsored by Maine's DECD, Somerset Career & Technical Center (SCTC) and Aspire River Hawks/ Chase Smith Community School, the Youth Entrepreneurship Competition featured seven students from Darcy Fitzmaurice's business class. Congratulations to the top three winners, as well as all the students who participated.
First place: Camren Tatakis, Cam’s Junk Removal
Second place: Olivia Pelletier, Threads Quest
Third place: Charlotte Haynie, Peak Precision Field Hockey
These opportunities build confidence, encourage creativity, and give consideration to entrepreneurship. Can't wait for next year's challenge!

06/09/2026

In the centralmaine.com Morning Headlines this morning, there was an article about a Sabattus woman who is one of only three students in the country to win acceptance into the National Science Foundation’s Undergraduate Summer Research Experience in North Dakota.
Alexis Spencer, 20, is entering her senior year at Thomas College in Waterville, which she chose, she says, because of the small class sizes and “because of the faculty who are passionate in what they are teaching.”
Congratulations Alexis and Thomas College!