The Harold Alfond Foundation has announced more than $500 million dollars of new grant investments in Maine people and institutions to help grow the state’s workforce and economy and support quality health care. These new investments build on the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to provide opportunity for the people of Maine to thrive from birth through career.
“Our state faces unprecedented challenges,” said Greg Powell, Chairman of the Harold Alfond Foundation. “In the face of these challenges, we still see a bright, prosperous future for the people of Maine. Today’s grants are to vital, high-performing Maine institutions who will help build that future.”
“The Harold Alfond Foundation’s thoughtful, targeted, and substantial investment will help solidify Maine’s competitive position in a global, knowledge-based, technology-driven economy,” said Thomas College President Laurie G. Lachance M.B.A. ‘92.
Funding from the Harold Alfond Foundation will support Thomas College’s sustained excellence and growth through the launch of new academic programs in leading-edge fields, enhanced student retention programs, expanded affordability initiatives, and a deepening of academic and employer community partnerships through the Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation.
Governor Janet Mills praised the investment. “I am grateful to the Harold Alfond Foundation for their partnership in making our long term goal of welcoming all innovators home to Maine a reality. By bringing together higher education institutions, research institutions, community organizations and business leaders, this initiative will fuel new opportunities for Maine people and diversify and expand our economy at a critical moment in our state’s history.”
Receiving commitments ranging between $5 million and $240 million each, the grant recipients are innovators in education, skill-building, research and job creation, including Thomas College. Supporting the goals of Maine’s 10-year Economic Development Strategy, the selected institutions will help enhance the skills of the state workforce, promote innovation and entrepreneurial solutions, and strengthen the state’s infrastructure.
In addition to Thomas College, grant recipients include The Roux Institute at Northeastern University, FocusMaine, Waterville Creates!, Colby College, the University of New England, The Jackson Laboratory, and the University of Maine System.
Learn more at www.haroldalfondfoundation.org/. Please stay tuned for additional details and more great news about Thomas College, to be announced next Wednesday, October 14, at noon.