AUBURN — The Center for Workforce & Professional Development at Central Maine Community College plans to offer a free Precision Machining Training Academy from May 24 to Aug. 31.

The deadline to register is Friday, May 7, to register, visit bit.ly/3cVrVh7.

Valued at nearly $10,000 in free training, plus wages earned through the worksite, the 12-week academy follows an earn-while-you-learn model. Qualified participants will gain paid work experiences with employer partners at $12.15 per hour.

Participants hired by employer partners after the program will earn higher wages and receive up to a $1,000 hiring bonus. Employer partners include ABB in Auburn, Elmet Technologies in Lewiston, Grover Precision in Oxford, Maine Machine Products in South Paris, and Nichols Portland.

Held in CMCC’s Gene Haas Precision Machining Technology Center and online, the academy provides participants with the fundamentals and knowledge for entry-level precision machining employment opportunities. Courses include WorkReady Skills; Blueprint Reading and Inspection; CNC Lathe I & II; CNC Milling I & II; and OSHA-10 General Industry.

Those who successfully complete the program will earn a micro-credential or digital badge in each of the instructional topics, and can apply their digital badges as seven credits towards an Associate Degree in CMCC’s Precision Machining Technology program.

Support services, such as travel and childcare, may also be available to eligible candidates. COVID-19 protocols are in place to ensure the safety of participants and their surroundings.

Participants must be at least 18 years of age; have a high school diploma, GED (General Education Development test), or HiSet (High School Equivalency Test); have U.S. citizenship and/or authorization to work in the U.S.; and be unemployed or underemployed. Work experience opportunities are based on the hiring requirements for each employer.

For more information or to register or about qualifications, email workforcedevelopment@cmcc.edu or call 207-755-5280.