MAINE IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED FOR AQUACULTURE GROWTH, BUT A WORKFORCE SHORTAGE COULD STUNT THE INDUSTRY'S POTENTIAL TO INCREASE PRODUCTION AND JOBS. OUR SOLUTION IS TO ESTABLISH A COMPREHENSIVE MAINE AQUACULTURE WORKFORCE TRAINING SYSTEM TO MEET THE CURRENT AND FUTURE LABOR NEEDS OF MAINE'S RAPIDLY GROWING AND EVOLVING AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY THAT FOLLOWS THE FORWARD-THINKING MAINE AQUACULTURE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY AND IS UNDERPINNED BY INDUSTRY-DEVELOPED OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS.SPECIFICALLY, WE WILL:DEVELOP AND PILOT A MAINE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AQUACULTURE (ME DOL) AQUACULTURE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM WHERE PARTICIPANTS WILL GAIN VALUABLE EXPERIENCE, RECEIVE MENTORING, GET TRAINED AND TESTED ON DEFINED OCCUPATIONAL COMPETENCIES, AND LEARN TO USE CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY AT MAINE'S MOST SOPHISTICATED COMMERCIAL SHELLFISH AND SEA VEGETABLE FARMS.DEVELOP AND ADMINISTER A SERIES OF STACKABLE, CREDENTIALED, AQUACULTURE SHORT COURSES AT SOUTHERN MAINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (SMCC) THAT FORM THE BASIS OF AN AQUACULTURE CERTIFICATE.UPDATE THE MAINE AQUACULTURE OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS FOR SHELLFISH AND SEA VEGETABLES, RECIRCULATING AQUACULTURE SYSTEMS, AND MARINE FINFISH TO ENSURE THAT AQUACULTURE WORKFORCE TRAINING REMAINS RELEVANT TO MAINE'S RAPIDLY EVOLVING AND GROWING INDUSTRY.COORDINATE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY BETWEEN SMCC, WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, THE MID-COAST SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY (K-9 CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION HIGH SCHOOL), AND ME DOL APPRENTICESHIP TO ESTABLISH MATRICULATION PATHWAYS AND DUAL-CREDIT PROGRAMS THAT ENABLE FAST-TRACKED DEGREE COMPLETION.OUR CONSORTIUM OF GMRI, SMCC, MAA, EDUCATE MAINE, AND ME DOL IS UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO DEVELOP AND SUSTAIN THE BROAD ARRAY OF INTERCONNECTED INDUSTRY-RELEVANT PROGRAMS TO HELP MAINE ACHIEVE ITS AQUACULTURE POTENTIAL.