An Act To Create a Regional Grant Program To Help Rural Businesses Find Qualified Staff
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0492
Committee: Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business
Sponsors: STEWART, BERNARD, LUCHINI, BAILEY
Amends: 5 MRSA §13056-I

Legislative Document
No. 492
S.P. 200
In Senate, February 19, 2021
An Act To Create a Regional Grant Program To Help Rural 
Businesses Find Qualified Staff
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on February 17, 2021.  Referred to the Committee 
on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business pursuant to Joint Rule 
308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator STEWART of Aroostook.
Cosponsored by Representative BERNARD of Caribou and
Senator: LUCHINI of Hancock, Representative: BAILEY of Gorham.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §13056-I is enacted to read:
§13056-I.  Rural Workforce Recruitment Program
1.  Program established.  The Rural Workforce Recruitment Program, referred to in 
this section as "the program," is established within the department to provide grants to 
entities in rural regions of the State to aid those entities in hiring workforce recruiters to 
assist rural businesses in those regions in locating and recruiting qualified staff to meet 
workforce needs.
2.  Fund established.  The Rural Workforce Recruitment Fund, referred to in this 
section as "the fund," is established as a nonlapsing fund within the department for the 
purpose of providing funds for the program.  The fund consists of money appropriated to 
the fund by the Legislature and any funds received by the department for the purposes of 
the program.
3.  Rulemaking.  The department shall establish by rule the criteria for eligibility for 
grants from the program and the process of application.  Rules adopted pursuant to this 
subsection are routine technical rules as defined in chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
4.  Reporting.  The department shall report by January 15th of each year to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over economic development 
matters on the program, including the number of grants given and the results achieved.
Sec. 2.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF
Rural Workforce Recruitment Fund
Initiative:  Provides one-time funds in fiscal year 2021-22 for eligible entities to hire a 
workforce recruiter to advertise and promote jobs in rural regions of the State and to locate 
qualified staff to fill the positions.  Funding appropriated to this program does not lapse but 
must be carried forward into the next fiscal year to be used only for the purpose for which 
it was provided.
GENERAL FUND
2021-22
2022-23
All Other
$1,000,000
$0
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$1,000,000
$0
SUMMARY
This bill creates a grant program and related fund for the purpose of aiding entities in 
hiring a workforce recruiter.  The purpose of the position is to advertise and promote jobs 
in rural Maine and to locate qualified staff to fill open positions.  Funds for the program 
are provided by a one-time appropriation from the General Fund of $1,000,000.