Gov. Wes Moore on June 17 introduced the primary spherical of Highway to Careers grant recipients. The six-year, $24 million funding will broaden the pipeline of highly-skilled staff to construct the state’s important transportation infrastructure. The $4 million in grants awarded on June 17 will present almost 1,200 Marylanders with in-demand coaching for expert jobs in development and upkeep.
“To develop our financial system, we have to maintain constructing new avenues to work, wages and wealth for all Marylanders — irrespective of their path,” mentioned Gov. Moore. “This can be a continuation of our multi-year push to broaden apprenticeships, and the whole state goes to profit. Collectively, we’re closing the racial wealth hole and increasing entry to alternative for all.”
Highway to Careers is a joint initiative between the Maryland Division of Labor and Maryland Division of Transportation designed to strengthen Maryland’s expertise pipeline for jobs within the transportation and development sectors. This system expands entry to pre-apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship alternatives, assembly important business demand whereas creating profession pathways for Marylanders who’ve traditionally confronted systemic limitations to employment together with low-income people, justice-involved people and English language learners.
Highway to Careers helps contributors entry high-quality, family-sustaining careers whereas supporting employers in constructing a extra inclusive, expert workforce. To make sure extra equitable entry to high-skill employment, this system provides wraparound assist companies that tackle widespread limitations to employment, together with transportation, childcare and psychological well being wants, all of that are contributing components to the state’s racial wealth hole.
“These investments will assist put together the subsequent era of staff for good jobs that assist the event of a world-class transportation system,” mentioned Maryland Division of Labor Secretary Portia Wu. “Because of Secretary Wiedefeld and MDOT for his or her partnership to assist revolutionary methods to develop our state’s workforce and financial system at a important second.”
Grantees will join contributors to confirmed coaching fashions and supply holistic assist to information contributors from enrollment by way of job placement and past. Supporting communities throughout Maryland, the next organizations obtained $500,000 grants by way of the inaugural spherical of funding:
Chesapeake School: Caroline County, Dorchester County, Kent County, Queen Anne’s County, Talbot County
Civic Works: Baltimore Metropolis
Building Trades Workforce Initiative: Prince George’s County, Baltimore County, Baltimore Metropolis
Hagerstown Neighborhood School: Washington County
HER Resiliency Middle: Baltimore Metropolis
Ironworkers Native Union #5 Joint Apprenticeship and Coaching Committee: Prince George’s County
Mayor’s Workplace of Employment Improvement: Baltimore Metropolis
Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland: Calvert County, Charles County, St. Mary’s County
“These grants will assist MDOT, and the whole transportation business in Maryland, efficiently practice and supply a path to good-paying jobs for hundreds of Marylanders,” mentioned Maryland Division of Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “These jobs are in demand immediately and can assist us construct necessary infrastructure initiatives all through our state. Because of Governor Moore and his management, MDOT is proud to accomplice with Secretary Wu and her group on this program and spend money on financial progress for all Marylanders.”
“The Ironworkers Native 5 is grateful to Governor Moore and Secretaries Wu and Wiedefeld for his or her management in launching the Highway to Careers initiative,” mentioned Ironworkers Native 5 Enterprise Supervisor Aaron Bast. “This funding will permit us to offer stronger helps for our apprentices, main to higher retention and in the end extra Marylanders touchdown and preserving well-paying union jobs.”
“HER Resiliency Middle is honored to be chosen for a Highway to Careers award,” mentioned HER Resiliency Middle Founder and President Natasha Guynes. “This grant completely aligns with our mission to extend the variety of ladies within the trades by offering expertise coaching coupled with holistic and complete helps like childcare and housing.”
The Maryland Division of Labor anticipates future rounds of funding within the coming months.
To be taught extra about Highway to Careers and for info on the grants awarded, please go to labor.maryland.gov/employment/roadtocareers.
SOURCE: Maryland Governor’s Workplace
