Employers
An educated workforce is important to Maine’s future.
FAME is encouraging Maine employers to do what they can to help their employees and their children, the future faces of Maine, to prepare for higher education.
Help your employees reach their higher education goals
With our partners, FAME is providing employers with information and easy activities that they can deploy to help invest in higher education for the future workforce of their companies and the future of Maine. Tools and resources are available.
Share information about saving for higher education with employees
Whether you are interested in promoting college savings by connecting families with information about NextGen 529™ or helping families of young children learn more about their $500 Alfond Grant¹, we have information and resources that can help.
Download the Employer Tool Kit
A $500 Alfond Grant has been invested for every child born a Maine resident since January 1, 2013¹. Families can use their Alfond Grant to open a NextGen 529® account without making an initial contribution. FAME administers NextGen 529, Maine’s Section 529 education savings plan, and works with the Alfond Scholarship Foundation to administer the $500 Alfond Grant program. Please share information about these programs with your employees!
Alfond Grant resources:
- Hang posters about the Alfond Grant
- Share MyAlfondGrant.org with employees. Distribute rack cards about MyAlfondGrant.org.
NextGen 529:
- On behalf of FAME, introduce NextGen 529 with your benefits package. It is easy for you and valuable to employees.
- Consider making contributions to employees’ or their children’s accounts.
- Offer payroll deduction to NextGen 529 accounts – have a question about payroll deduction? or call FAME at 1-800-228-3734.
- Host a learning session. FAME can come to talk about planning for college and help employees open NextGen 529 accounts.
- Hang posters.
Encourage aspirations
Help employees connect their career goals with the education they need to get there. Share resources families can use to prepare for their children's higher education.
Employee aspirations:
- Talk about college as part of annual evaluations for professional development planning.
- Become a mentor or create a job shadowing or internship program.
Family aspirations:
- Encourage employees to make a “MyPlan” for their child or grandchild’s future success at MyAlfondGrant.org.
- Distribute rack cards about MyAlfondGrant.org.
- Employees can find resources for their children or themselves to start preparing to pay for higher education at FAMEmaine.com.
Help employees pay for higher education
Even small amounts of money can help make a big difference.
- Provide scholarships or grants to help reduce borrowing.
- Provide tuition assistance up front instead of reimbursement.
Help employees manage their student loans
On behalf of FAME share information about student loan repayment or consider helping students repay student loans.
- Consider offering student loan debt relief to employees.
- Connect employees to information about refinancing student loans. Share information about FAME’s online resource.
Want FAME to visit your workplace?
Provide your information below and we’ll be in touch! We’ll also add you to our mailing list so we can share information about how we can all Invest in ME.
Providing contact information is voluntary. Information may be used for FAME education-related communications. You may unsubscribe from future communications at any time.
The Alfond Scholarship Foundation is not an authorized distributor of NextGen 529.
¹ The Alfond Grant is not automatic in all circumstances and is also available in limited other circumstances. The use of the Alfond Grant is also subject to certain restrictions- see Guidelines.
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