AUGUSTA — The Finance Authority of Maine, which administers state and federal college grants and scholarships, announced that its annual College Goal Sunday dates and locations will be expanded this year to better meet the needs of Maine students and families.

In addition to 10 regional events to be held Sunday, Jan. 30, 40 other sites will be offering assistance during the months of January and early February.

For the past seven years, College Goal Sunday has drawn thousands of families to locations across Maine in late January for free workshops to help complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is required by most educational institutions for financial aid consideration.

FAME is expanding the program and it will no longer be a one-day event. Rather, the entire month of January will be deemed College Goal Maine, dedicated to helping students and families complete the FAFSA. Similar workshops also will take place in early February.

All locations will use computer labs, allowing participants to access and, in many cases, complete the FAFSA online during the seminar. Line-by-line assistance will be provided by financial aid professionals from Maine colleges and universities. All attendees are encouraged to bring recent tax information or estimates. Residents of all ages who are interested in college or post secondary education should consider attending.

“FAME is pleased to be offering Maine families and students more convenient options for completing this important first step to get financial assistance to pursue higher education,” FAME Chief Executive Officer Beth Bordowitz said. She noted that less than 40 percent of Maine’s graduating high school seniors file the FAFSA form by May 1, the deadline for many state education grants.

“Many financial aid applicants are filing too late for grants, loans and scholarships,” Bordowitz said. “FAME wants to encourage earlier applications so Maine families and students can take full advantage of all available resources.”

Financial assistance can come from a variety of resources, including grants, scholarships, federal student loans and work-study jobs. Application deadlines vary at each school. Students are urged to contact schools directly about filing deadlines. “Applying for aid on time and as early as possible is as important as ever,” Bordowitz added.

To learn more about the program and locations, visit http://www.collegegoalsundaymaine.com/ or call FAME toll free at 1-800-228-3734.

 FAME is a quasi-independent state agency that provides innovative financial solutions to help Maine people and businesses pursue educational and business opportunities.