Total Fund Will Exceed $800,000, Additional Funding Available for Maine Students
Contractors review donated items for the silent auction.
The Associated General Contractors of Maine Education Foundation announced following a Gala Event that contractors have committed to more than $300,000 in additional funds for Maine students pursuing construction careers. The total fund balance will exceed $800,000 as contributions are received.
As the construction industry recovers from the recent great recession, the entire industry remains under pressure to educate new skilled workers. “This effort was considered before the recession but placed on hold. I don’t think anybody expected Maine would lose more than a quarter of the construction workforce. Increasing our capacity to support Maine students attending a post-secondary institution is part of our plan to meet the demand of increased costs for students,” said AGC Maine CEO Matthew Marks.
AGC Maine designated a Committee to lead the fundraising efforts and set up a Gala Event at the Freeport Hilton Garden Inn to celebrate past scholarship winners and continue fundraising efforts. Chair of the Committee is AGC Maine’s 2007 Board President Eldon Morrison, the founder of CPM Constructors, “The construction industry by nature will always be fierce business competitors. But we know working together to build a stronger generation of skilled workers is in the best interest for all of us and the people of Maine. The cost of education is rising, and we need to support Maine people who will fill the work boots of those retiring.”
The task force members led by Chair Eldon Morrison include; Patty Labbe-Cormier, Susan Morrison, Beth Sturtevant, Michelle Ibarguen, and AGC’s Andrea White. They were helped by volunteers including Dianne Morrison, Tim Ouellette, Abigail Morrison-Ouellette, Isabella Morrison-Ouellette, Sophia Sturtevant, Sophia Koziell, Mark Bancroft, Charlie Cianchette, Mary-Kate Cianchette, and Jack Kelley.
Maine’s construction employment has slowly started to recover, but the need will continue to grow. At peak construction, before the recession, more than 32,000 construction workers applied their skills in the industry. Nearly 10,000 construction workers, that’s more than 26%, lost their jobs during the recent great recession. Today around fifty percent of those jobs lost have been replaced. The number of aging workers will only continue to grow. “The fact is we lost so many talented workers who could have helped the industry bring new workers up to speed. So now we not only have the population challenge in Maine, the exposure to programs like industrial arts has all but disappeared for general education. We can overcome all of these new challenges if everyone works together,” said Marks.
This year the Foundation provided $21,000 in scholarships for 16 students attending Maine institutions with a construction career focus. AGC Maine will continue to build on existing education and scholarship programs while introducing new ideas this year to increase opportunities for careers in construction. “We have a great start on our renewed efforts to recruit and support students. I’m proud of the engagement by the entire industry,” said Morrison.
Gala Event Sponsors include: Northeast Paving; Bancroft Contracting; Reed & Reed; Cote Crane; J.P. Martin & Sons; Albin, Randall & Bennett; CPM Constructors; EJ Prescott; MEMIC; The Rowley Agency; Ranger Contracting; Sargent Corp; Wyman & Simpson; Norway Savings Bank; Frankenmuth Surety; Casco Bay Ford; Clark Insurance; BerryDunn; R.W. Gillespie & Associates; Loren & Donna Clark; Liberty Mutual Surety; United Rentals; Landry/French Construction; Patty Labbe-Cormier; CCB, Inc; Cianbro; Hews Company; The Penobscot Company; PC Construction; S.W. Cole Engineering; L&D Safety Marking; Cross Insurance; ES Boulos.
Donated items from:
Scott & Diana Story – 1 Hour Scenic Flight Over Belfast for 2 People
Sebasco Estates – 1 Night Stay and 2 Days of Unlimited Golf for 2 People
Pat & Nancy O’Brien – Olive Oil and Wine Tasting with hors d’oeuvres for 10 People at Fiore Oil
Patty Labbe & Mark Cormier – Camp for a week in Portage with Basket of Goodies
Maggie Kelley – Hand Made Pearl Necklace
United Rentals – 4 Red Sox Tickets for June 10th
Mark Bancroft – 90 Minute Plane Ride for up to 5 People from Oxford Airport
Eldon & Dianne Morrison – 4 Hour Cruise on Casco Bay with a stop at Pott’s Harbor with Lobster Stew at Dolphin Marina Restaurant
Brown Goldsmiths – Gold Necklace and a $250 Gift Card
Cross Insurance – 4 Lower Bowl Tickets to Patriots vs. Giants *Pre-Season August 29th
Varney Agency – King Air 200 Trip to Cape Cod, Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax or Burlington
The Meadows Golf Club – Green Fees for 1 Foursome for 18 Holes
Maine Turnpike Authority – “Welcome to Maine, Open for Business” sign
Maine Turnpike Authority – “Maine, Welcome Home, The Way Life Should Be” sign
Cross Insurance – 2 Tickets to Steve Martin & Martin Short
Cross Insurance – Hockey Stick signed by 2018 Bruins team
Cross Insurance – Autographed Hockey Puck by Tuuka Rask
Cross Insurance – Autographed Red Sox Jersey, Rick Porcello
Bilodeau Insurance – Scarlet Begonia’s Gift Certificate
Bilodeau Insurance – Frontier Café Gift Card
Fat Boys Drive-In – Fat Boys Drive-In Memorabilia
Sebago Technics – Single Family Home Septic Design
Casco Bay Ford – Lube, Oil, Filter, Free Alignment & 27 Point Inspection
CCB, Inc – Stihl MS 250 Chain Saw
Anonymous – Wooden Weathervane with Sailboats
Ranger Contracting – SeneGence Basket
Ranger Contracting – Go Pro Hero 7 Black with 128GB Card
Marcia Winn-Auriemma/Harraseetket Inn – Harraseeket Inn Lobster Brunch
Tuscan Table – Tuscan Table Gift Certificate
Skillins Greenhouse – Skillins Greenhouse Gift Card
Andrea Hunter/Erica’s Seafood – Erica’s Seafood Gift Certificate
Vivian Wixon – Artist Proof Print, Limited Edition – “Looking Out to Sea”
Susan Wixom/Bangor Savings Bank – Wine Gift Basket
Georgetown Pottery – Georgetown Pottery Platter
Maine Oxy – Welding Hood, Welding Leather Jacket, and Welding Gloves
Maine State Music Theater – 2 Tickets to Treasure Island
At Last…Salon & Day Spa – At Last…Salon & Day Spa Gift Certificate
Anonymous – Miche Bag
Eldon Morrison – 20lbs Fresh Maine Lobster
Jessika Williams & Nelly Bickford – Treat Yourself Gift Basket
Anonymous – Bixby Craft Confectionery
Smith Law, PA – Mini Maine Tote with Wine, Candies & Nuts
Susan Morrison – Stampin’ Up! Gift Basket
R.W. Gillespie & Associates – RTIC Cooler, 2 Stainless Steel Cups, and Straws
Portland Sea Dogs – Ceremonial 1st Pitch & 4 General Admission Tickets
Brunswick Home and Gardens/Jess & Sandy Laffely – Electric Hedge Trimmer
Berkley Surety – Maine Craft Beer Basket
Linda Roberts/BerryDunn – Custom Metal Art Work
Beth Sturtevant – Maine Sea Bag and Beach Fun
Travelers Bond & Insurance – Gift Basket Featuring an Apple Watch
Tuscan Bistro – Tuscan Bistro Gift Certificate
Hanover Insurance – David’s Restaurant Gift Certificate
Clark Insurance – Home Depot Gift Card
Atlantic Regional FCU – $100 Visa Gift Card
Stantec – Day Trip on Richardson Lake with a Sandy Beach Picnic for 4
Mallory Portraits – Family Portrait Session & Portrait
Royal River Grill House – Royal River Grill House Gift Certificate
Anne Lavoie – Whoopie Pies
Co-Auctioneers Charlie Cianchette and Mark Bancroft sold everything from homemade pearls from Maggie Kelley to airplane rides and camp rentals. Special Guest New England Patriot Rob Ninkovich, who worked as an ironworker with his father, shared his perspective on the value of education and hard work. Members danced, laughed, and helped raise the level of awareness of the program and the importance to support all forms of construction education. Scholarship applications for 2020 are available now at www.agcmaine.org/scholarship.
Contact FMI
Matthew Marks
Cell: 207-530-3001
mmarks@agcmaine.wpengine.com