Maine is an even better place to live and work, thanks to the Harold Alfond Foundation

The Harold Alfond Foundation and the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) are once again seeking applications for student loan debt relief for Maine residents who are employed by a Maine-based business in the STEM-related fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. Applications are now being accepted through November 15, 2020. The Alfond Leaders program assists Maine employers in attracting and retaining talented STEM professionals by providing student loan debt relief of up to $60,000 per recipient.

The Harold Alfond Foundation recently invested $500 million in making Maine a great place to live, work, and learn. The Alfond Leaders is just one more example of the Foundation’s ongoing investment in the effort to attract and retain qualified STEM workers for Maine’s future.

An applicant must have a higher education degree or certificate, or be graduating by May 31, 2021 in order to apply during this current application collection period.

Applicants will be recruited from across the nation, and current Maine residents are eligible and encouraged to apply.

An Alfond Leaders Advisory Committee assists in the selection of applicants and recommends candidates. Applicants can apply by visiting AlfondLeaders.org.

Who is eligible?

• Maine residents or persons who will become Maine residents upon being hired by a Maine-based employer;
• A person employed, or who will be employed, by a Maine-based employer in a designated STEM occupation;
• An applicant must have a higher education degree or certificate or be graduating by May 31, 2021 to apply in this current application cycle (September 15, 2020 – November 15, 2020)

• An applicant must have outstanding student loan debt;
• Candidates must submit an application, including a written essay, an official college transcript and resume, a statement of intent to live and work in Maine for six years; an employment certification by a Maine-based employer; and disclosure of the amount, source, and terms of the student loan indebtedness.
• Those selected to become Alfond Leaders will receive debt reduction payments made on their behalf, paid in two disbursements after three and six years respectively, of qualifying employment.

To learn more about the program or to apply, please visit: AlfondLeaders.org

155 Alfond Leaders currently employed at 92 Maine companies

Abbott Laboratories
Bachmann Industries, Inc
Baker Design Consultants
BerryDunn
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
Blackhawk Network
Blue Marble Geographics
ByteMap
Casco Systems, LLC
CCB, Inc.
Central Maine Power – AVANGRID
Cerahelix
CES Inc.
Cianbro Corporation
City of Westbrook
Colby Company Engineering
Community Health Options
Consigli
Covetrus
Down East Community Hospital
Eaton Corporation
Elanco Animal Health, Inc.
Enercon Technologies
EnviroLogix Inc.
ESRI
FHC, Inc.
Fiber Materials Inc.
Franklin Community Health Network
General Dynamics Bath Iron Works
Gulf of Maine Research Institute
GZA Geo Environmental, Inc.
Howe and Howe Technologies Inc.
IDEXX Laboratories
ImmuCell Corporation
Jackson Laboratory
Jasper Wyman & Son
Kleinfelder, Inc.
Lanco Integrated
Maine-Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency
Maine Department of Transportation
MaineHealth
MDI Biological Laboratory
MedRhythms
Maine Medical Center Research Institute
MMG Insurance Company
Montalvo Corporation
Molnlycke
ND Paper Old Town Mill
New Balance Athletics
Northern Light Health
Northern Light Mayo Hospital
Nyle Systems. LLC
Onpoint Health Data
Panda Rocket Punch, LLC
Pen Bay Medical Center
Penobscot Community Health Care
Peregrine Turbine Technologies
Pines Health Services
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Power Engineers, Inc.
Pratt and Whitney
Ransom Consulting. LLC
Rarebreed Veterinary Partners
RLC Engineering
RxAnte, Inc.
Sappi Limited
Sea & Reef Aquaculture
Sebago Technics
SGC Engineering LLC
Siemens
St. Germain
Stantec
STARC Systems
Stone Coast Fund Services
TD Bank, N.A.
Tyler Technologies
University of Maine
University of New England
Verso Corporation
Waldo County General Hospital
WEX
Wild Ocean Aquaculture LLC
Winxnet
Woodard & Curran
Woodland Pulp LLC
Wrabacon Inc.