Compact Training and Funding Process

The Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce transitioned to a new grant cycle on January 1, 2025. A historic $75.5 million investment from the Harold Alfond Foundation will allow us to continue supporting the Maine Workforce Development Compact and workforce development needs through 2030. To streamline processes and ensure the sustainability of funding, we’ve made a few key updates that include a single payment, a 45-day close out window, the opportunity to collect an administrative fee, and more customized training opportunities through Maine’s community colleges.

New MOA for Existing Compact Members
A new Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is required for Compact Members to access 2025 funding. If a new MOA has not been signed, former Compact Members will need to submit a new application to rejoin the Compact. The updated MOA reflects streamlined processes, new opportunities, and continued support for workforce development.

Compact Funding Process
The Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce uses two portals for Compact Members.

Upskill Maine (Grant Management System)

• Purpose: Join the Compact, submit and manage funding requests, track request status, make amendments, and submit completion data.
• Access: Only Organizational Admins and Program Contacts have access, each with a unique login based on their email address.
• Link: https://upskillmaine.powerappsportals.com

Lumens (Registration System)

• Purpose: After funding approval, create demographic profiles for students, assign students to classes, and access employee training records.
• Access: Administrators share a login (your HA number). Employee profiles can be completed by administrators or directly by employees. Employees will set up their own login.
• Link: https://mccsme.augusoft.net

The data we collect is required by our grant. With the addition of Upskill Maine, we aim to migrate to one system in the future.

How do I navigate the funding process as an employer?

1. Become a member of the Maine Workforce Development Compact!
Access the benefits of the Compact and receive up to $1,200 in training funding per frontline employee. Join here. You’ll receive an MOA to sign and return and you’ll be paired with a regional Workforce Development Coordinator to assist you with your training needs.

2. Submit and Manage Funding Requests
Funding requests must be submitted before the training starts. You will need the following to complete a funding request in Upskill Maine: your W9 (the first time you submit a request), the excel file of trainees (template provided in Upskill Maine), training information, workers to be trained, and your training vendor information.The system can save your request at any point for you to continue at a later time. You can also duplicate requests if you have a training you repeat regularly.

You can also monitor the status of, and manage, all your funding requests submitted since January 1, 2025 in the Upskill Maine grant management system.

Helpful links:

• Full Upskill Maine documentation
• Add members in your organization to Upskill Maine.
• Definitions of Roles within Upskill Maine.
• Review steps for submitting a funding request.
• Make an amendment to a funding request.

3. Register your Employees in Lumens, the Registration System
If you are training through Maine’s community colleges, you will register directly with the college.If your training is internal or with a third-party training vendor, once the training is approved, you will receive a link in your approval email to the Registration System. Register your employees who will be taking the training. Employees who have trained before will already have user profiles. Employees who have not yet trained will need to complete a new profile.

Helpful links:

• Access Lumens, the Registration System here
• FAQs
• Sample Employee Registration Language

Instructions can be accessed through the following links:

• To create an employee profile in Registration System
• To have an employee complete their profile in the Registration System
• To add an employee to a class in the Registration System

4. Closeout Process. To be eligible for payment, completion data, including those who completed the training and trainee surveys, must be submitted within 45 days of the training’s end date. You will receive an email reminder and closeout instructions at that phase. This will be done through Upskill Maine. Please ensure all training data is correct. You can submit an amendment request directly in Upskill Maine at any time before submitting grades and closeout the project and are encouraged to do so as soon as you have updated information on the training.Note: If you complete your training with one of Maine’s community colleges, this step will be completed for you.

Helpful Links

• Complete a training closeout.

Support

Every employer has a designated regional Workforce Development Coordinator to assist them with the funding process and training needs. If you have any questions, please reach out. We’re here to help!

Scholarships for Employees

• Employees of Compact Members are eligible to receive two classes at 50% off per semester. Learn more here.
• Customize this flyer and distribute to your employees to promote this benefit in their personal career and skill development journey.