University of Maine System receives $1.9M federal grant for healthcare training center

University of Maine at farmington healthcare workforce training center - the university of Maine at farmington (umf) has secured a $1.9 million FY2026 congressionally directed spending (cds) award through the u.s. Department Of Health And Human Services, Health Resources And Services Administration (HRSA) to renovate approximately 5,000 square feet within the ricker addition on the umf campus into the umf healthcare training center. The project will transform existing university space into a modern healthcare workforce training facility designed to expand educational capacity and address critical healthcare workforce shortages throughout the mainehealth mountain region, western Maine, and the state of Maine. The project was developed through ongoing collaboration with mainehealth and mainehealth franklin hospital as well as other regional healthcare providers, faculty, and workforce partners to address documented shortages in high-demand healthcare occupations. Following discussions with these stakeholders, the project will initially support the development of a surgical technologist certificate program, identified as the region's highest workforce priority. The renovated facility will be intentionally designed with flexible instructional, laboratory, and clinical training space capable of supporting future allied health workforce programs, including respiratory therapy, radiologic technology, and magnetic resonance imaging (mri), as workforce needs evolve. Primary project activities include renovation and modernization of approximately 5,000 square feet of existing university space; construction of flexible instructional, laboratory, simulation, and clinical training areas; installation of instructional technology and specialized healthcare training equipment; development of clinical education partnerships; and preparation of the facility to support the implementation of the surgical technologist certificate program and future allied health workforce education. The project will serve traditional undergraduate students, adult learners, incumbent healthcare professionals seeking workforce advancement, displaced workers, and residents from rural communities across western Maine and the state who have limited access to healthcare education and training opportunities. Umf's residential campus expands access by allowing students from throughout Maine to participate in specialized healthcare workforce programs while remaining in a rural learning environment. Mainehealth and mainehealth franklin hospital, and other regional healthcare partners are collaborating with umf to help design instructional spaces, support curriculum development, establish clinical education opportunities, and ensure that training aligns with current healthcare workforce needs. These partnerships will help prepare graduates for employment in high-demand healthcare occupations while strengthening regional healthcare workforce pipelines. Upon completion, the umf healthcare training center will provide a fully operational accredited healthcare workforce education facility that supports hands-on clinical learning, expands access to healthcare career pathways, and creates capacity for future allied health programs. The project represents a long-term investment in rural healthcare workforce development, strengthening the supply of skilled healthcare professionals and improving access to healthcare services throughout western Maine and across the state of Maine.