Lt. Governor Brown Announces Workforce One Maryland BRAC Project Awards
BALTIMORE, MD (September 16, 2008) – Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown announced the winners of six Workforce ONE Maryland project grants at a press conference today on Baltimore City Community College’s Liberty Heights campus. Brown was joined by Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) Secretary Tom Perez and Workforce Development Assistant Secretary Andrew A. Moser.
“Our military installations and, more importantly, our warfighters are counting on us to prepare a trained, skilled and sustainable workforce. We know that our preparation requires strong partnerships like the ones represented here,” said Lt. Governor Brown. “These six diverse organizations represent the private sector, nonprofit community and our institutes of higher education. More importantly, today’s awardees represent the collaborative partnerships that have made Maryland a national example to other mission-growth states.”
The Workforce ONE grants are funded as part of a $4 million grant to DLLR from the U.S. Department of Labor to assist Maryland’s planning and implementation of initiatives that address workforce challenges posed by BRAC. The military realignment is scheduled to be completed in September 2011 and will create as many as 60,000 new jobs in Maryland. It’s estimated the Marylanders will fill as many as seven out of 10 jobs created in the state because of BRAC.
“This grant money will provide these innovative and targeted programs the support needed to ensure a smooth transition of BRAC impacted agencies, as well as current and prospective employees,” said DLLR Secretary Perez.
“This latest round of Workforce ONE Maryland projects moves us one step closer to the completed BRAC transition and demonstrates Maryland’s continued support of the military’s mission,” said DLLR Assistant Secretary Moser.
Baltimore City Community College received $93,634 to create a new Center for Construction Technologies. Other grants announced today include:
- $99,250 to Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind to establish a workforce development program for visually-impaired and blind veterans in BRAC-impact regions,
- $100,000 to Lockheed Martin for a BRAC employee training and development program;
- $100,000 to Monster Government Solutions to create a website portal for Maryland military families;
- $100,000 to Towson University’s Department of Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences to design and implement an elementary engineering program in Harford County Public Schools;
- And $100,000 to Associated Builders and Contractors to provide training to minority-owned businesses that will connect more Maryland businesses with BRAC opportunities.
“Baltimore City Community College is delighted to host this event with Lt. Governor Brown and very proud to be among the other noteworthy institutions that have been awarded Workforce ONE Maryland grants,” said Baltimore City Community College President Carolane Williams. “We all have unique and important roles to play in supporting our military communities and in addressing the State’s BRAC-related workforce challenges. We look forward to working collaboratively, to sharing our knowledge and resources and together, ensuring that Maryland is firmly positioned to meet the workforce development challenges that ahead.”
Under the direction of the BRAC Subcabinet’s action plan, DLLR is engaged in aggressive efforts to create and sustain a trained workforce to meet the immediate and long-term needs of Maryland’s military installations. The department’s efforts include outreach to incumbent military workers whose jobs are moving to Maryland and training and education of potential employees in Maryland.
Earlier this year, DLLR opened a One-Stop Employment Center at Ft. Monmouth to provide workers with information about Maryland, including information about schools, entertainment and housing opportunities. In addition, DLLR has established certification reciprocity agreements with New Jersey to ease the professional transition of spouses of military personnel.
Today’s announcement represents the second round of Workforce ONE grant awards. Six individual organizations received awards during this round, totaling just under $600,000. The first round of awards was announced in June and included five awards, totaling approximately $400,000. The grants announced in June included:
- $100,000 to the Ft. Meade Alliance to develop a Security Clearance education program for 7th-12th graders;
- $100,000 to Cecil College for the creation of a fast-track certification program in government contracting;
- $70,860 to Harford County Public Schools to expand access to career pathways in homeland security and provide hands-on technology training for high school students;
- $99,999 to Frederick Community College for the development of a curriculum focused on Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility; and
- $28,750 to Chesapeake Bay Region Technical Center of Excellence to conduct a study of BRAC commuting habits.
A third round of awards will be announced early next year.