Maine Community College System

Northern Maine Community College, a division of the Maine Community College System, is a state-controlled institution of higher learning located in Presque Isle, Maine that has been registered to receive federal awards since January 2002. The college serves as a critical educational and workforce development resource for the northern Maine region, providing academic programs, technical training, and student support services to prepare individuals for employment in key regional industries. Through both federal contracts and grants, Northern Maine Community College has demonstrated a commitment to expanding educational opportunities and addressing workforce demands in skilled trades, renewable energy, early childhood education, and other high-demand sectors.

Northern Maine Community College has received federal contract awards primarily from the Maine National Guard and the Department of the Army for catered meal services. Between May 2023 and September 2024, the college secured two purchase order contracts totaling approximately $22,843.75 to provide prepared meals for military personnel. These contracts required the college to furnish all personnel, food items, supervision, materials, and meal preparation and service capabilities for approximately 75 service members of the 185th Engineering Company. The college held the appropriate certifications, including ANSI food safety accreditation and a Maine state food license, to fulfill these requirements. These contracts were awarded under competitive solicitations that evaluated technical capability, past performance, and pricing, with no set-asides applied.

The college has been significantly more active in securing federal grant funding, receiving multiple substantial awards from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education and other federal agencies. Major grants include a $2,175,000 award for wind technician safety training development in collaboration with Maine Maritime Academy; a $1,000,000 congressional directed spending grant for expansion of the mechanized logging operations program with CDL credentials; a $567,000 grant for electrical construction and maintenance program expansion; a $550,000 grant for technology and infrastructure upgrades including human life simulator warranties; a $410,000 grant for diesel hydraulic program expansion; and a $306,511 award under the TRIO Student Support Services program to enhance outcomes for disadvantaged students. Additional grants supported faculty training for early childhood education accreditation ($115,000), wind turbine technician safety training expansion ($988,000), and COVID-19 emergency relief funds ($203,632). The college has also served as a sub-awardee under grants from the Maine Department of Education focused on career and technical education skill development. These grants, awarded primarily through the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education program and the Employment and Training Administration, reflect the college's strategic focus on workforce development, program expansion, and removing barriers to student success.