Governor’s Workforce Investment Board Releases State Workforce Plan for Public Comment

Plan fully integrates State workforce services across several agencies

BALTIMORE, MD (January 15, 2016) – Today, the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board and the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation announced the commencement of the public comment period for the issuance of Maryland’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act State Plan. The State Plan serves as Governor Larry Hogan’s blueprint for the creation of an effective and efficient workforce system.

Last year, Governor Hogan directed the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board, the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, the Department of Human Resources, and the Maryland State Department of Education to work collaboratively to develop a strategic and operational plan that includes workforce programs currently administered by the various agencies.

“I am grateful to our partners at the Departments of Human Resources and Education as well as our local workforce providers for making this State Plan a reality. Our further collaboration will ensure that Maryland’s jobseekers and businesses are at the center of our workforce system,” said Secretary Kelly M. Schulz of the Maryland Department of Labor.

For the first time, Maryland is combining its workforce efforts across multiple agencies into one State Plan. The Plan emphasizes greater collaboration between Maryland’s workforce agencies to provide more comprehensive services to Maryland’s jobseekers.

By committing to serve low-income individuals receiving services through the Maryland Department of Human Resources, as well as those with disabilities receiving services from the Maryland State Department of Education and Maryland’s adult education population, the State workforce system is devoted to serving all of Maryland’s jobseekers.

The State Plan is a part of Maryland’s implementation of the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which was signed into law on July 22, 2014 and went into effect July 1, 2015.

The State Plan is accessible both on the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board’s website and on the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation’s website . The public is encouraged to comment on the State Plan until February 1, 2016by emailing comments to DLWDALWIOA_DLLR@maryland.gov.

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