AUGUSTA — The NextGen College Investing Plan has more than $1,000 for each eligible Maine child to put toward his or her college costs. The Finance Authority of Maine, which administers the program, is urging parents, grandparents and others who are helping young people to plan ahead for college to take advantage of these grants.

More than 30,000 Maine children already have NextGen college savings accounts. FAME credits the success of the $500 Harold Alfond College Grant and FAME’s $200 Initial Matching Grant for this achievement, noting there are families still eligible to receive hundreds of more dollars in grants just by adding to their NextGen accounts.

Maine is one of 30 states collaborating with the College Savings Plans Network to declare May 29 “529 Day” in an effort to encourage families to start preparing for college costs early.

“We have significant grants to help pay for higher education and we want Maine’s children to receive them,” said FAME’s Chief Executive Officer Bruce Wagner. “The first step is simply to open a NextGen account. The combination of grants and regular savings can grow to help make a student’s higher education dream a reality.”

For more information, visit http://nextgenplan.com.