State Announces Request for Proposals for EARN Maryland
Labor Seeking Applications to Grow Nationally-Recognized Workforce Development Initiative
BALTIMORE, MD (December 6, 2021) – Today, the Maryland Department of Labor (Labor) announced that the Employment Advancement Right Now (EARN) Maryland program, the industry-led, competitive workforce and economic development grant initiative, is now accepting Implementation Grant Proposals. Proposals will be due on March 7, 2022, and awards will be made in May of 2022.
Under Governor Hogan’s leadership, the funding for EARN Maryland has doubled, with an added $3 million annually for cyber and IT training, investments in clean and green jobs training, and funding for opportunity zones. Encouraging collaboration, EARN Maryland funds Strategic Industry Partnerships comprised of five or more employers, and a wide array of other organizations, including non-profits, higher education, local workforce development boards, and local governments.
“As Maryland businesses continue to rebound from the economic impacts of COVID-19, it is important to ensure we are providing a wide array of resources,” said Secretary Robinson. “Investing in and expanding this nationally-recognized initiative is a common sense way to add another tool for employers to have the talent necessary to continue to thrive, while providing meaningful career pathways to the middle class for all Marylanders.”
Partnerships funded through EARN provide in-demand, relevant training to unemployed, underemployed, and incumbent workers based upon industry identified needs. Successful applicants to Labor’s solicitation will develop a comprehensive plan to bridge employer-identified skills gaps in a given industry, while demonstrating the ability to address the holistic needs of workers and eliminate barriers to employment.
EARN Maryland currently funds more than 60 Strategic Industry Partnerships across the state in diverse, high-growth industries, such as information technology, healthcare, transportation and logistics, and biotechnology. As a result of its industry-led model, nearly 7,000 individuals have obtained employment, and more than 9,500 incumbent workers have obtained new skills, certifications, or credentials. EARN has been identified as a national best practice for its innovation in sector strategies by organizations like the National Skills Coalition and the Urban Institute. The program was also named one of the Top 25 programs in the 2018 Innovations in American Government Award competition by The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, a leading research center at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Labor will hold a virtual Pre-Proposal Conference on December 15 at 10:00 a.m. For more information about EARN Maryland and for a link to the Solicitation for Implementation Grant Proposals, please visit: EARN Maryland webpage.
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 Labor on Twitter, Facebook, and visit our website.
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