Maine Office of New Americans

The Maine Office of New Americans (ONA) is charged with making Maine a home of opportunity for all, strengthening Maine's workforce, enhancing the vibrancy of Maine's communities, and building a strong economy.

Maine faces a shortage of workers across regions, professions, and skill levels, especially in critical sectors such as health care, education, and construction. Improving how Maine connects New Americans to employers through the ONA is one of many strategies to address the state's workforce needs, in line with Maine’s 10-Year Statewide Strategic Plan.

The Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future (GOPIF) launched the ONA in January 2025. Maine is part of the Office of New Americans State Network– a consortium of over two dozen U.S. states with dedicated offices or staff to coordinate immigrant integration. The Network, which includes 22 states, provides access to expertise, experiences, and best practices from states across the country on developing policy approaches to support the successful economic, social, and civic integration of immigrants.

The Maine ONA will evolve in collaboration with immigrants, employers, communities, workforce infrastructure, and state agencies. Its initial priorities include:

• Building workforce pathways and entrepreneurship support for immigrants
• Improving coordination among organizations supporting immigrants
• Expanding and strengthening English language acquisition opportunities

New Americans are Maine residents who were born outside of the United States and their children. They include over 56,000 foreign-born residents—roughly 1 in every 25 Mainers—and nearly 14,000 native-born children with at least one parent born outside the United States (source: Migration Policy Institute).

Learn more about us

Portions of this website have been translated into languages other than English to assist the non-English-reading public. Translated content is provided and updated where possible.  

Resources for New Americans in Maine

Organizations Supporting New Americans in Maine

This list includes organizations across Maine that support immigrants and communities seeking to welcome them. It includes:

• Organizations exclusively dedicated to advancing immigrant inclusion and integration.
• Organizations with broader missions that offer specific programs for immigrants.
• Organizations that support Mainers, including immigrants, access opportunities to participate in the workforce.

Please note: The information provided is based on the organizations’ websites and has not been independently vetted for accuracy. Organizations without websites or with outdated websites are not included.

If you would like to add or change your organization’s information, please contact us.

English Language Learning Providers in Maine

This list includes providers offering English language learning opportunities for adult English Language Learners (ELLs) in Maine.

State & Federal Resources

• Workforce Resources for New Mainers (Maine Department of Labor)
  Information for New Americans seeking to access quality careers in Maine.
• The New Mainers Resource Center
  A statewide program providing free services to skilled immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and employers, with offices in Portland, Lewiston, and Bangor.
• Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services)
  Practical information to help immigrants settle into life in the United States, including information on becoming a U.S. citizen. Find the guide in 13 other languages here.
• Protecting New Mainers from Immigration Scams (Office of the Maine Attorney General)
  Resources for avoiding immigration scams.

Reports

• Plan to Establish the Maine Office of New Americans