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Maryland Department of Labor Wins $5M Federal Grant to Create One Baltimore for Jobs

BALTIMORE, MD (June 30, 2015) – Under the leadership of Governor Larry Hogan, the Maryland Secretary of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) Kelly M. Schulz announced today that the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Employment Development (MOED) and DLLR have been awarded a two-year $5 million dollar Demonstration Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to develop innovative job training strategies and work opportunities for at-risk youth and young adults in Baltimore through the One Baltimore for Jobs initiative.

"This Administration remains committed to getting Baltimore back on its feet. To provide economic stability and opportunity for Baltimore City, we must all work together to help build a stronger economy in our state,” said Governor Hogan. These funds will bring together employers, anchor institutions, and nonprofits to build on best practices and unify efforts to provide needed services, skills training and real job opportunities to at-risk and in-need individuals.”

"Part of our agency's mission is to cultivate a thriving workforce that can meet the demands of Maryland’s dynamic economy, said Kelly M. Schulz, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation. "What better way to do that than by preparing our young people for the jobs through the One Baltimore for Jobs initiative where participants will receive meaningful work experiences to ensure they are ready to work and have the skills needed to be successful in the workplace."

The project will target unemployed individuals in predominantly African-American, low-income neighborhoods in Baltimore City, with an emphasis on areas hard hit by damage caused by the civil unrest of April 27th, 2015.

The demonstration project will serve youth and young adults between the ages of 16 and 29 who have been disconnected from the labor force – meaning that they are both not enrolled in school and not currently working.

The targeted population will be provided with a range of services, including job training, job counseling and placement, referral to social services, and comprehensive employment barrier removal strategies.

One Baltimore for Jobs will work to strengthen the current workforce development system and initiate innovative practices that will reach communities who have been previously disconnected The objective will not only be to help residents receive training and obtain a job – but to build an infrastructure that more closely partners city and state agencies, nonprofit organizations and community associations.

Goals include:

  • Increasing access to occupational skills training in five key sectors: healthcare, construction, technology, manufacturing, and transportation and logistics.
     
  • Reducing barriers to employment and training by creating programs that can serve the needs of residents across the city.
     
  • Supporting community-based projects and establishing linkages with career opportunities through dialogue and partnerships with local organizations.