About Opportunity Maine

Opportunity Maine was founded by student and community leaders from all over Maine who are committed to advancing sustainable economic prosperity in our state. We succeeded in bringing the Opportunity Maine Initiative from idea to citizens’ initiative to law. For only the sixth time in Maine history, the Maine Legislature passed a citizens’ initiative outright – unanimously in the House of Representatives, overwhelmingly in the Senate, and with the enthusiastic signature of Governor John Baldacci. Now, through public education, grassroots organizing, policy development, and other means, we are working to make the Opportunity Maine program successful, bring educational opportunity to all Maine people, and develop the workforce Maine’s businesses need to succeed.

Why Opportunity Maine is Important

Both degree attainment and incomes in Maine lag roughly 25% behind the New England average, placing us last in the region on both counts. We cannot create jobs without investing in our workforce, and businesses will not grow or locate here if we do not have the workforce they need. Given this reality, it is clear that a lack of investment in affordable higher education has limited public and private investment in our economy overall.

The Opportunity Maine program will expand the number of Mainers who believe they can tackle – and afford – a higher education degree. Maine’s economy, like the Nation’s, is transitioning to a knowledge– and innovation–economy, and Maine’s workers need the opportunity to gain the skills they need to compete. In fact, research shows the average bachelor’s degree earner in Maine makes $16,600 more per year than the average diploma holder, and associate’s degree earners make over $10,000 more. Opportunity Maine will provide an average tax credit of $2,100 per year for bachelor’s degree earners ($1,100 for associate’s degree earners).

Benefits to Employers and the Economy

First, By using the Opportunity Maine program, employers can support existing and new employees gain the education they need by paying the student loans and taking the tax credit themselves, earning a substantial reduction in their tax burden.

Over time, Maine’s employers will have access to one of the best-trained workforces in the country, and have a strong competitive advantage over similarly situated firms in other states. This long term investment in the skills and capacities of Maine’s workforce will result in greater job, wage, and economic growth. The program will ultimately pay for itself, with higher tax revenues generated by higher paying jobs and economic spillover effects more than offsetting the amount of the tax credits that individuals and businesses receive.