Live + Work in Maine

Welcome to Live + Work in Maine. We're so glad you're here.

🌟 Featured Program

The State of Maine wants to help you thrive! Live and work in Maine, and you could be eligible for student loan repayment assistance through the Student Loan Repayment Program.

Maine's Student Loan Repayment Program (up to $25,000) - This opportunity loan reimburses student loan payments for college graduates who live and work in Maine. You may qualify for up to $2,500 back per year for 10 years as a refundable tax credit if you obtained an associate's, bachelor's or graduate degree after 2007, you graduated from an accredited school anywhere on Planet Earth, you were a Maine resident during the tax year, and had a certain amount of earned income during the tax year. Read more at this link.

👨‍👩‍👧 For Families

Whether you already have children or plan to in the future, Maine is a great place to raise a family. Read more below about the programs available to support Mainers and their families.

NextGen529 - For Maine taxpayers, contributions are made to a 529 account in the amount of up to $1,000 per student. NextGen 529 accounts do more than help you save for a four-year college education. They can be used to pay for two-year associate degree programs, trade schools, even qualified online courses—at home or abroad. Read more at this link.

MyAlfondGrant - A $500 grant towards future higher education expenses for all babies born Maine residents. Read more at this link.

Healthy School Meals for All - Provides free breakfast and lunch to all students in public schools, regardless of income.

Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave - Beginning in 2026, eligible workers in the private and public sector will have up to 12 weeks of paid time off available to care for a family member with a serious health condition, to bond with a child after birth, fostering or adoption, to care for their own medical needs, to deal with the transition of a family member’s impending military deployment or to stay safe after abuse or violence. Read more at this link.

Insurance Coverage for Fertility Treatments - Beginning in 2024, the law ensures that insurance companies offering policies in Maine must now include fertility treatments in their coverage. This is a significant step forward for families struggling with fertility issues, as the costs associated can often be prohibitively high. It is important to note, though, that while the law mandates coverage, it doesn’t specify the extent of the coverage. This means that insurance providers may still have some discretion in terms of how much of the treatment costs they will cover. Read more at this link.

🎓 For Students

Considering furthering your education? Maine has programs to support you.

The Roux Institute of Northeastern University Graduate School Scholarships - Maine residents are awarded generous scholarships to earn in-demand graduate degrees at Northeastern University’s Roux Institute via its Alfond Scholars Initiative. The average scholarship award is $30,000. Read more at this link.

🎖️ For Veterans

It's no accident that Maine was named one of the Best States for Military Retirees. Check out the link below to learn more.

Boots2Roots - Helps active-duty military members, Veterans, and spouses find meaningful work and put down roots in Maine! With free, personalized transition services like resume-writing, career coaching, and employer networking, Boots2Roots aims to help Teammates find employment or school within 2 months of arriving in Maine. These services are provided at no cost to Boots2Roots Teammates, supporting a successful transition process and saving program participants over $4,000 on average! Read more at this link.

Don't just take our word for it - hear directly from a new Mainer...