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Maryland Announces Launch of Statewide Lodging Apprenticeship Program

$50,000 Grant to Baltimore Community-based Organizations to Recruit and Develop Youth

BALTIMORE (Nov. 6, 2017) – Today, the Maryland Department of Labor celebrated the approval of the state’s first-ever lodging apprenticeship program through the sponsorship of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). AHLA and Grads of Life also announced a $50,000 grant to two community-based organizations in Baltimore to recruit and develop opportunities for “Opportunity Youth.”

The program’s announcement was made during National Apprenticeship Week, a celebration of the role registered apprenticeships play in revolutionizing Maryland’s workforce. Apprenticeships are full-time jobs that include on-the-job training and classroom instruction, allowing apprentices to earn while they learn. The number of active apprentices has grown nearly 19% over the last year due to the Hogan administration’s investments in Registered Apprenticeship opportunities.

"This lodging apprenticeship program shows the state’s commitment to truly transforming the way we address our workforce development in Maryland," said Labor Secretary Kelly M. Schulz.

Currently, six million young people between the ages of 16 to 24 – “Opportunity Youth” – are out-of-school and out-of-work. According to the Governor’s Office of Children, 85,000 Opportunity Youth call Maryland home. With some 600,000 job openings within the hospitality industry, AHLA and Grads of Life’s grant commitment will help fill a critical labor shortage in the long-term by joining with community-based organizations to attract youth for careers in Baltimore’s hospitality industry.

“Providing opportunities for youth is important to ensuring employers have a pipeline of talent for the future. Partnerships like the one formed between AHLA, Grads for Life and these key Baltimore community-based organizations are yet another example of how we are changing Maryland for the better,” said Secretary Schulz.

In partnership with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, AHLA has made a national commitment to the U.S. Department of Labor to train some 2,500 apprentices in the hospitality industry over the next five years. To date, AHLA has not just met, but exceeded that goal by more than 175 percent, securing more than 400 commitments from AHLA’s hotel membership.

Businesses and job seekers interested in learning more about apprenticeships and how to get involved with the program should visit the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training page for more information.

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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