LEWISTON — Maine Labor Commissioner Robert Winglass will present certificates to the first class of graduates from a new work force training program this week.

The Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership program is funded by the state Department of Labor and Unity Foundation. The graduation ceremony will be held on Thursday in Lewiston.

The nine graduates are previously unemployed workers, including three veterans. They’ll receive job offers from WahlcoMetroflex, an engineering and manufacturing firm in Lewiston.

The jobs program provides customized training in high-tech mobile classrooms for careers in manufacturing and is designed to address the skills shortage in Maine.