Governor Hogan Announces Nine New EARN Maryland Implementation Grants
BALTIMORE, MD (May 2, 2017) – Under the leadership of Governor Larry Hogan, Kelly M. Schulz, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Labor (Department of Labor) today announced the nine recipients of the 2017 EARN (Employment Advancement Right Now) Maryland Implementation Grants. The awardees were selected as the partnerships best able to meet industry-identified workforce needs and train Marylanders in the skills employers demand.
EARN Maryland, which has been recognized as a national best practice for its innovation, is an industry-led program that encourages collaboration among employers, non-profits, higher education, local workforce development boards and local governments. These most recent awards include the participation of nearly 70 employers and will train more than 700 Marylanders.
“Growing this nationally-recognized, industry-led initiative is a common sense way to continue meeting our administration’s top priority of improving Maryland’s economy and putting more people to work,” said Governor Hogan. “I offer my congratulations to these new partnerships and look forward to seeing our Maryland employers grow and expand with a highly trained workforce.”
“The Governor’s investment in the EARN Maryland program demonstrates the Administration’s commitment to providing new avenues for businesses to excel while increasing opportunities for Marylanders," said Maryland Labor Secretary Kelly M. Schulz. “The Department is committed to growing the program to ensure that Maryland is improving business outcomes by expanding the talent pipeline to continue to propel our economy forward.”
Under Governor Larry Hogan’s leadership, the funding for this initiative has doubled -- with an added $4 million dollars for cyber and green training in FY18. Given this added investment in the EARN program, the initiative will solicit new proposals that seek to meet the workforce training needs of the green and cyber industries in the coming weeks. Awards provide funding to start or maintain partnerships of at least five employer partners and provide employment and training opportunities to Maryland’s workforce.
“W. R. Grace and our Baltimore chemical industry neighbors are encouraged by this funding commitment to address the job training needs of advanced manufacturing in the state. We look forward to working with the Maryland Department of Labor to develop the talent we need to compete and grow,” said Keith N. Cole, Vice President, Government Relations and Environment, Health, and Safety, W.R. Grace.
“I am delighted that Wor-Wic will be the training partner to help address this critical need for a skilled workforce for the local construction industry, which is currently hampered by the aging of the current workforce, the impact of the recession and a lack of awareness by many young people of career opportunities in the industry. I am confident that this effort will contribute to the success of the construction industry, the upward mobility of the workforce and the economic growth of the region,” said Dr. Ray Hoy, President, Wor-Wic Community College.
More than 650 employers have participated in the program, which has resulted in more than 1,400 Marylanders obtaining employment and an estimated 3,000 incumbent workers advancing their skills. For every dollar spent on EARN Maryland, the State's return is almost $15 for every workforce dollar invested -- compared with the national average return of $3.41.
Please visit EARN Maryland for more information and for a link to the Solicitation for Implementation Grant Proposals.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Summar J. Goodman
Director of Constituent Services
410-230-6069 (office)
443-928-0280 (cell)
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.