SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The Campaign for Maine’s Community Colleges says $11.3 million has been raised by the private sector to support the state’s seven community colleges.

Monday’s announcement marked the end of the first phase of the campaign, which began in early 2010 and sought to raise a minimum of $10 million. The campaign also seeks to expand enrollment in Maine’s community colleges from 18,500 to 25,000 by 2018.

Gov. Paul LePage attended the event to draw awareness to the state’s community college system, which he says is a key to the state’s economic growth.

LePage said Monday that smart investments like the private donations to community colleges “will pay huge dividends and change lives.”

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.