BY MECHELE COOPER

Staff Writer

An organization that helps middle and high school students with life skills, from how to manage a budget, to writing a resume, will start up four new programs this school year in Somerset County.

Jobs for Maine Graduates in Farmingdale recently received a $200,000 Community Block Grant from the Maine Department of Economic Development. They provide help for students who are likely to leave school or fail.

Craig Larrabee, the organization's chief executive, said the funding will provide programs to Madison High School, Skowhegan High School, Carrabec High School in North Anson and Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield.

He said the goal is to help 200 students. JMG is finishing up hiring instructors for the programs and recruiting students.

"We're going to be partnering with those four school systems and working with them to identify students that could use additional help staying in school, teaching them job skills and goal setting and helping them with academics," Larrabee said Tuesday. "We'll also help them with the transition from high school to continuing their education or getting a job."

He said only about 78 percent of Maine's high school students graduate each year.

"We're about the middle of the pack when you look at it in terms of the national average," he said.

Tammy Knight, of the Department of Economic Development, said the funds come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and are distributed through her agency.

"It's an annual allocation that the state receives from HUD that we give out to a number of different programs," Knight said. "It's all on a competitive basis."

She said the money is awarded to projects that benefit groups that comprise mostly low to moderate income people; eliminate slum or blight; or meet an urgent need, which requires a declaration of disaster.

Larrabee said the block grant will pay the full cost of the programs this year. Then, he said his staff will work with school officials to help identify other forms of funding so the programs can continue.

"JMG is a public-private organization," he said. "We receive public and private funding so we can help identify other grants and private sector dollars so they can have the program next year."

Jobs for Maine's Graduates, established by the Legislature in 1993 to develop and implement comprehensive school-to-work programs, is in middle schools and high schools. He said there is a total of 67 programs throughout the state.

JMG is funded through cost-sharing arrangements with schools, private contributions, the Maine Legislature and federal programs.

Larrabee said the school is asked to contribute 45 percent of the direct cost, $22,000 a year.

"I've actually had the experience of seeing it in place in Gardiner and Portland and seeing its success," said Rick Wilson, principal of the Skowhegan High School. "It's a program that will help support a part of our population that is not being served as well as we'd like."

Mechele Cooper -- 623-3811, ext. 408

mcooper@centralmaine.com