**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE MAINE AQUACULTURE INNOVATION CENTER AND WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE ARE PARTNERING TO CREATE AND PILOT WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMMING FOR AQUACULTURE. THE NEED FOR THE PROGRAM WAS IDENTIFIED IN A RECENT REPORT WRITTEN BY THE GULF OF MAINE RESEARCH INSTITUTE. THE PROJECT INCLUDES THE CREATION OF NEW CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY SYSTEMS, PILOT TESTING CURRICULUM AND DELIVERY METHODS, AND DEVELOPMENT OF ASSESSMENT TOOLS. THE CONTENT OF THE PROGRAMMING WILL MEET THE NEED FOR ENTRY-LEVEL SKILL SETS IN 4 KEY AQUACULTURE SUB-SECTORS (RECIRCULATING AQUACULTURE, FIN-FISH AQUACULTURE, SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE, AND MACROALGAE AQUACULTURE) AND INCORPORATE THE LATEST TEACHING AND AQUACULTURE TECHNOLOGIES. STUDENTS WILL GRADUATE WITH A WORKFORCE TRAINING CERTIFICATE OR AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE.THIS PROPOSED EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AIMS TO DEVELOP A NEW WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAM TARGETING THE NEEDS OF THE AQUACULTURE SECTOR IN MAINE, IN ORDER TO TRAIN A NEW GENERATION OF DATA AND TECH-SAVVY AQUACULTURISTS. THE PROGRAMMING DEVELOPED WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE EXPANDED TO OTHER COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN MAINE, AND THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEAST U.S. THE CONTENT OF THE PROGRAMMING WILL MEET THE NEED FOR ENTRY-LEVEL SKILL SETS IN 4 KEY AQUACULTURE SUB-SECTORS: 1) LAND-BASED RECIRCULATING AQUACULTURE; 2) MARINE FIN-FISH AQUACULTURE; 3) COLD-WATER COASTAL SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE; AND 4) MARINE MACROALGAE AQUACULTURETHE PROPOSED WORKFORCE TRAINING PROJECT INCLUDES THE CREATION OF NEW CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY SYSTEMS, PILOT TESTING OF THE CURRICULUM AND DELIVERY METHODS, AND DEVELOPMENT OF ASSESSMENT TOOLS FOR A WORKFORCE TRAINING CERTIFICATE, AND AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE FOCUSED ON AQUACULTURE.