JMG: Building Maine’s future workforce through partnership and ingenuity

Equipping students with skills and opportunities to prepare them for success in education and beyond

For over 30 years, JMG Inc. (formerly Jobs for Maine’s Graduates) has been at the forefront of addressing Maine’s growing workforce challenges, offering equitable solutions to economically disadvantaged and underserved students. From a dropout prevention program to a statewide leader, the organization now serves over 12,000 students annually across every county. This growth is a testament to JMG’s commitment to providing the right support at the right time to help students succeed from middle school through postsecondary education and into the workforce.

“We’ve built something very special, and we’re really excited about sharing our story,” says Craig Larrabee, president and CEO of JMG. “The success of our organization is really built on being student-centered and results-driven, meeting students where they’re at and developing models of direct services that help them raise their aspirations and become productive citizens.”

JMG’s journey began as a program engaging high school students who were at risk of not completing their education. Over time, the organization evolved to encompass students in middle school, high school and postsecondary institutions. Its work is no longer limited to helping students graduate but extends to ensuring they are prepared for whatever comes next, whether it is higher education or the workforce. As Maine continues to face significant demographic challenges, including an aging population and a shortage of skilled workers, JMG’s mission to provide students with relevant, career-ready skills has never been more critical.

Building Workplace Competency

By combining experiential learning with competency-based education, JMG prepares students for real-world challenges, giving them a competitive edge as they enter the workforce or postsecondary pathways. JMG has over 150 programs, partnering with schools and a network of employers across the state to ensure that students are equipped with both academic knowledge and workplace competencies.

One of JMG’s key innovations is developing Maine’s first statewide micro-credential framework, allowing students to earn and stack qualifications that demonstrate competencies to employers. As the students earn their micro-credentials, they get a badge that can be published on social media or LinkedIn, which can be seen by colleges and employers. The program has been so successful that JMG created another nonprofit, Generation US (GenUS), to offer the initiative to partners. This past August, Digital Promise Global published a research paper about JMG’s micro-credentials and design approach entitled “The Promise of Micro-credentials and Learning and Employment Record Technologies for Youth and K-12 Schools.” Later this fall, JMG will be presenting its micro-credential framework at the Aurora Institute Symposium, a national conference for education innovators who are working to transform K-12 education.

“Our micro-credential framework allows high school students to show that they can persist while allowing them to have agency and choice in their learning,” says JMG Executive Vice President Kimberley Acker Lipp, who has been with JMG for over 20 years.  “Highly personalized to every learner, micro-credentialing gives students an effective currency to colleges or future employers.”

Partnership Driven

In addition to this practical focus, JMG’s work is deeply rooted in Maine’s spirit of collaboration. Since its inception, the organization has received strong nonpartisan political support. Governors, legislators, school administrators and the business community have all recognized the value of investing in Maine’s youth.

“When you think about Democrats, Republicans and Independents all coming together in a nonpartisan way, that’s a story in itself in today’s world,” says Larrabee, who joined JMG as a classroom specialist when it began in 1993. “To have that happen in our state for over 30 years is something that is difficult to overlook. It’s really about the State of Maine and its leaders understanding the importance of children for our future.”

JMG’s ongoing success is also tied to the support it receives from Maine-based foundations. One of its most significant supporters is the Harold Alfond Foundation, which awarded JMG a $10-million grant to expand its College Success programs. This funding has allowed JMG to provide targeted support to students across all of Maine’s public university and public community college campuses.

Similarly, the MELMAC Education Foundation has been a key partner in supporting JMG’s mission to make postsecondary education more accessible to all Maine students. JMG and the MELMAC Education Foundation are working with individual schools in an organic way to create change within districts to make them more student-centered and results-driven.

Scaling Services and Scope

Looking forward, JMG continues to innovate. The organization is exploring partnerships and funding opportunities through GenUS that will allow it to broaden its work beyond Maine. JMG’s impact extends beyond individual students. By helping them develop career-ready skills and achieve academic success, the organization is also addressing Maine’s broader economic challenges. JMG plays a critical role in preparing the next generation of leaders, workers and entrepreneurs.

Learn more about JMG at jmg.org.