The administration of Governor Janet Mills on Monday unveiled it’s plan to get Mainers back to work.

The “Back to Work” program will provide employers a one-time $1,500 payment for eligible workers who start jobs between June 15th and June 30th, or a one-time $1,000 payment for eligible workers who start jobs in July.

The first-come, first serve program will use $10 million in federal funding, and could reach up to 7,500 Mainers.

In a statement, Governor Mills said “We have worked hard over the last fifteen months to get the pandemic under control so that it’s safe for everyone to return to work. Now COVID cases are down, vaccines are widely available, and jobs are plentiful. Employers across the state are looking to staff up, which means there are opportunities for everyone to work, earn a living and contribute to our state’s economic recovery. With this new program, we are providing another tool to accelerate peoples’ transition back into the workforce, protecting their health and their long-term financial stability.”

In order to be eligible, people must have received unemployment compensation for the week ending May 29th, 2021, accept a full time job that pays less than $25 an hour and remain on the job for at least eight consecutive weeks, and not receive unemployment compensation during that period.

The program begins Tuesday and applications will be accepted through July 25th.