This handbook is designed to help Maine's citizens and business persons understand why work force development is important in Maine and how Maine's new work force development system will be organized to enable the state to implement the Workforce Investment Act. The following are among the topics discussed throughout the handbook: (1) the importance of the Workforce Investment Act; (2) benefits of work and the adverse impacts that disruptions in work have on individuals and the economy as a whole; (3) changes in Maine's economy over the past 100 years and the changing role of manufacturing in the state; (4) the evolution of government involvement in the workplace and employment services; (5) characteristics of Maine's envisioned work force system (accessibility, simplicity, affordability, comprehensiveness, and business-friendliness); (6) the history and objectives of Maine's CareerCenters initiative and services offered by career centers; (7) ways that the self-directed activities, workshops, and one-on-one services provided by Maine's one-stop career centers help job seekers and employers; (8) ways that work affects communities and work force development approaches for communities to try; and (9) names of parties involved in work force development partnerships in Maine. Section 11 presents a map showing the locations of Maine's 23 career centers. (MN)