Maryland Announces More Than $1.6 Million in Funding to Grow Nationally-Recognized Workforce Program
BALTIMORE (Oct. 9, 2018) – Maryland Labor Secretary Kelly M. Schulz today announced the award of more than $1.6 million in state funds to grow the Department of Labor’s Employment Advancement Right Now (EARN) Maryland program. EARN Maryland is the state’s nationally-recognized workforce solution that helps businesses cultivate the skilled workforce they need to compete while preparing Marylanders for meaningful careers.
EARN Maryland awards funding to strategic industry partnerships comprised of employers, non-profits, higher education, local workforce development boards, and local governments. The 15 partnerships announced today are comprised of more than 80 employer partners and will train nearly 600 Marylanders in in-demand careers including cybersecurity, healthcare, and construction trades.
“The partnerships funded under this recent solicitation exemplify the capacity of collaboration and partnership to effect great change in people’s lives. The work of these industry partners will lead to a more highly trained, highly skilled workforce,” said Secretary Schulz. “We are grateful to Governor Hogan for his support of this nationally recognized program and look forward to its continued success with our new partners.”
Under the governor’s leadership, the funding for this initiative has doubled, with an added $4 million for cyber and green training in FY18 and FY19. The program has nearly doubled its number of strategic industry partnerships over the last year, leading to more Marylanders going back to work and improving their skillsets.
"The Maryland Food Bank’s FoodWorks Program is proud to partner with the nationally recognized EARN program,” said Maryland Food Bank Executive Director Carmen Del Guercio. “Through FoodWorks, our students learn in-demand culinary skills by creating healthy meals for hungry Marylanders. This partnership is a win-win for our state because we’re addressing some of the root causes of hunger – lack of workforce training and job opportunities – while alleviating food insecurity.”
More than 900 employers have participated in the EARN Maryland program, which has resulted in nearly 3,000 Marylanders obtaining employment and more than 5,200 incumbent workers advancing their skills.
"EARN Maryland is a natural extension of the College of Southern Maryland's collaboration with local employers, our workforce development partners, higher education, and DLLR to tackle specific workforce challenges,” said Dan Mosser, vice president of continuing education and workforce development at the College of Southern Maryland. “The Construction Workforce Partnership for Southern Maryland, CSM's new EARN grant, is a two-year effort to increase the pipeline of trained professionals entering careers in the skilled trades and to improve the safety performance of our construction workforce."
The new projects, listed below, are set to begin in October 2018 and January 2019.
| Partnership | Lead Applicant | Region |
| Herbert J. Hoelter Vocational Training Partnership | Herbert J. Hoelter Vocational Training Center | Baltimore City |
| Highway to a Healthcare Career | Independence Now | Prince George’s County |
| FoodWorks Culinary Training Program | Maryland Food Bank | Baltimore |
| Construction Workforce Partnership for Southern Maryland | College of Southern Maryland | Southern Maryland |
| PharmaTech Connect | Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake | Baltimore City |
| Global Resource for Academic & Career Excellence (GRACE) | Virginia L. Grant Foundation | Central and Capital Regions |
| Jobs in the Transportation Industry: A Road to Success | Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation | Anne Arundel County |
| Community Health Workers Training Partnership | Asian American Center of Frederick | Frederick, Montgomery, Washington Counties |
| Susquehanna HVACR Partnership | Cecil College | Cecil County |
| Montgomery Alliance for Childhood Education | Montgomery College | Montgomery County |
| Automated Facilities and Logistics Technician Program | Community College of Baltimore County | Baltimore |
| Maryland Cyber Skills Alliance | CompTIA | Capital Region |
| Certified Cyber Analyst Operator Partnership | UMBC Training Centers | Central Region |
| Baltimore Cybersecurity Partnership | I’m Still Standing Community Corporation | Baltimore |
| Advancing Careers in IT | Community College of Baltimore County | Baltimore |
Get more information about EARN Maryland and to learn how to become involved with the program.
About the Maryland Department of Labor
The Maryland Department of Labor is committed to safeguarding and protecting Marylanders. We're proud to support the economic stability of the state by providing businesses, the workforce, and the consuming public with high-quality, customer-focused regulatory, employment, and training services. For updates and information, follow the Maryland Department of Labor on Twitter (@MD_Labor), Facebook and visit our website.
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