An Act To Support Workforce Development by Increasing Engineering Capacity

Sec. 1. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE

Maine Economic Improvement Fund 0986

Initiative: Provides funding in fiscal years 2017-18 and 2018-19 only to increase the capacity of the University of Southern Maine's engineering program.

GENERAL FUND	2017-18	2018-19
All Other	$400,000	$400,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$400,000	$400,000

summary

This bill provides $400,000 in fiscal year 2017-18 and $400,000 in fiscal year 2018-19 to the Maine Economic Improvement Fund to strengthen the University of Maine System's engineering programs by seeding the development of competencies in areas such as industrial engineering, environmental engineering and biomedical engineering to meet the applied research and workforce needs of existing, growing and emerging industrial activity in southern Maine. The funds will support the acquisition of critical infrastructure at the University of Southern Maine such as laboratory equipment and personnel that are necessary to strengthen the University of Southern Maine's engineering program while promoting synergy with the University of Maine's engineering program. Ongoing equipment maintenance and personnel costs will be absorbed within the University of Southern Maine's budgeted resources.