Maine Lobstermens Association Inc

PURPOSE: THE YOUNG LOBSTERMEN BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP ADVANCEMENT PROJECT WILL INCLUDE THREE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMPONENTS TO PROVIDE YOUNG LOBSTERMEN ACCESS TO BUSINESS, LEADERSHIP, AND FISHING SKILLS TRAINING AT VARIOUS STAGES OF THEIR CAREER TO PREPARE THE FISHERY FOR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY IN THE FACE OF MANY ECONOMIC AND REGULATORY CHALLENGES. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE THREE COMPONENTS WILL INCLUDE CLASSROOM-STYLE WORKSHOPS, ON THE WATER PROGRAMS, AND A FIELD TRIP TO CANADA. 1) THE HAUL PROGRAM (HARVESTERS ADVANCING UNDERSTANDING AND LEADERSHIP) WILL CULTIVATE NEW CONSERVATION LEADERS IN THE LOBSTER INDUSTRY AND FOSTER CREATIVE APPROACHES TOWARD STEWARDSHIP OF THE RESOURCE. WE WILL RECRUIT 10 TO 15 PARTICIPANTS EACH YEAR, FOR TWO YEARS, TO COMPLETE THIS PROGRAM. 2) THE BUOY TO BANK: BUSINESS SKILLS FOR LOBSTERMEN PROGRAM WILL EQUIP THE NEXT GENERATION OF MAINE LOBSTERMEN WITH ESSENTIAL BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SKILLS. WE WILL RECRUIT AT LEAST 20 PARTICIPANTS EACH YEAR, FOR TWO YEARS, TO COMPLETE THIS PROGRAM. 3) THE STERNMAN 101 TRAINING PROGRAM WILL OFFER THE FIRST OF ITS KIND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN MAINE, TO EQUIP YOUNG PEOPLE WITH HANDS-ON SKILLS, SAFETY KNOWLEDGE, AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE NEEDED TO OPEN A PATHWAY TOWARD A SUCCESSFUL CAREER IN THE LOBSTER FISHERY. WE WILL RECRUIT UP TO 18 PARTICIPANTS EACH YEAR, FOR TWO YEARS, TO COMPLETE THIS PROGRAM. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: IN ITS FIRST YEAR, THE PROJECT WOULD ENROLL AT LEAST 50 PARTICIPANTS AND UP TO 75 IN THE SECOND YEAR. THESE PROGRAMS WOULD BOOST THE ECONOMIC SUCCESS OF INDIVIDUAL LOBSTERMEN AND CULTIVATE A NEW GENERATION OF INFORMED, ENGAGED LEADERS. BY BUILDING A STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT WORKFORCE, THIS PROJECT WOULD DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF MAINES ICONIC LOBSTER INDUSTRY. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: ULTIMATELY, THIS PROGRAM WILL HELP BUILD A NEW GENERATION OF INFORMED, EMPOWERED LEADERS, ENSURING THE CONTINUED SUSTAINABILITY, RESILIENCE, AND PROSPERITY OF MAINES LOBSTER INDUSTRY AND THE COASTAL COMMUNITIES THAT DEPEND ON IT. PROVIDING LOBSTERMEN THE TRAINING AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO RUN A PROFITABLE BUSINESS WILL HELP ENSURE THE ECONOMIC STABILITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL LOBSTERING BUSINESSES AND HELP SECURE MAINES COASTAL ECONOMY. THIS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EFFORT WILL OPEN THE DOOR, ATTRACTING AND TRAINING YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE EAGER TO ENTER THE INDUSTRY BUT LACK A DIRECT PATH INBENEFITTING BOTH CAPTAINS AND STERNMEN HELPING TO ENSURE THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF MAINES ICONIC LOBSTER FISHERY. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE MAINE LOBSTER COMMUNITY ALLIANCE (MLCA) IS A SUB-RECIPIENT ON THIS PROJECT. USING ITS DEEP TIES TO THE LOBSTER INDUSTRY, MLCA WILL ENSURE INCLUSIVE OUTREACH AND AVOID CREATING HARDSHIPS FOR PARTICIPANTS WHO LIVE IN REMOTE RURAL AREAS. MLCA HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE EDUCATING THE LOBSTER INDUSTRY THROUGH ITS MONTHLY NEWSPAPER LANDINGS, AND WILL PLAN A CRITICAL ROLE IN COMMUNICATING THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROJECT TO THE LOBSTER INDUSTRY AND THE PUBLIC.