Eastern Maine Community College said graduates of its 2014 class with degrees in fine woodworking and cabinet making probably will have full-time employment after they graduate this month.
Hinckley Yachts invited students from the program to apply for positions at its facility in Trenton, Maine. The college said the luxury jetboat and sailboat builder has added more than 100 positions to its work force during the last year and is working to fill another 20 to 30 immediately.
The college said successful applicants will get full-time positions at competitive wage levels that include comprehensive benefits, a 401(k) plan and paid time off. Of the 14 students in the class, nine have applied.
Hinckley general manager of Maine operations Andy Fitzpatrick said he expected a high percentage of the students to be offered full-time positions.
The community college partnered with Hinckley to begin the Fine Woodworking and Cabinet Making concentration in 2012, anticipating industry growth that would lead to careers for graduates in the marine and specialty construction trades. The concentration is a tailored option within the two-year Building Construction program. It was funded by a $320,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.