Maine is at an economic crossroads. As industries evolve with artificial intelligence and clean energy, the demand for skilled workers is outpacing supply. We have the training infrastructure to prepare the workforce of the future, but we face a fundamental challenge: many of the individuals who could thrive in Maine’s economy are held back by language barriers. This is why I urge the Maine Legislature to support LD 471, which expands intensive English language learner programs.

I am the son of Mexican immigrants, raised in a Spanish-speaking home. Today, I am the founder and former executive director of Resilient Coders, a free and stipended coding bootcamp that trains low-income individuals for careers as software engineers. We operate in Boston and Philadelphia, and now, thanks to a grant from Maine’s Department of Economic and Community Development, we are running a pilot program in Portland. The average student has historically tripled their earnings — from $33,000 to $100,000 — without a college degree.

Immigrants tend to do really well at Resilient Coders. I’m not speaking about those who arrive in the U.S. with advanced degrees and established careers; I’m referring to young people who’ve come here seeking opportunity and are eager to launch their professional lives. The data is clear: when given the opportunity, they excel. But we need them to be able to speak English proficiently.

LD 471 represents a comprehensive solution. We would be expanding access to intensive English language programs that already exist through the UMaine system, taking a solution we already know works, and scaling it up.

The pilot includes training English teachers our state desperately needs. By expanding university-based programs for TESOL training, we will develop a sustainable pipeline of highly qualified educators. The pilot includes necessary supports like child care, transportation and living stipends that enable participants to focus on learning English full time so that they can learn as fast as they can and be the most productive workers they can be when they’re back at work.

Additionally, it connects graduates with employers through Maine CareerCenters and workforce navigators. The program promises continued meaningful collaboration between Maine’s education institutions, employers and state agencies, creating a holistic ecosystem to support both English language learners and the Maine economy.

Maine needs these workers. Our state faces a workforce shortage that threatens our ability to compete in an increasingly technology-driven economy. We have the resources to train individuals in high-demand fields, but many potential students are excluded from programs like ours simply because they lack English proficiency. Expanding English language learner programs will not only help immigrants integrate more quickly but will also provide Maine’s economy with the skilled workforce it desperately needs.

Investing in intensive English language education is an investment in our state’s future. It’s about ensuring that new Mainers can contribute fully to our economy and society. It’s about building a state where opportunity is not dictated by language barriers but by talent, ambition and hard work. Supporting LD 471 isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s the smart thing to do.

Maine’s prosperity depends on all of us. Let’s make sure we give everyone the tools to succeed.