Division of Workforce Developmentand Adult Learning

STATE INDUSTRY SECTOR INVESTMENT INITIATIVES

June 19, 2015

Employment Advancement Right Now (EARN) Maryland

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What is EARN Maryland?

Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation

A paradigm shift - Industry collaboration with critical and diverse partners to meet changing workforce needs and skills shortages

A new way of creating sustainable employment and careers for working families in Maryland

  Targets low and no-skilled workers as well as incumbents to

eliminate barriers and create responsive career pathways

By removing barriers between stakeholders, this initiative organizes formal sector partnerships in collaboration with the public workforce system, higher education and community service organizations.

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How is EARN Maryland different? Industry drives the process –industry must

be at the table in a robust and meaningful way

Each Strategic Industry Partnership (SIP) must include 5 employers from the target industry and representatives from 2 diverse entities

Collaboration and partnerships are key

Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation

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What EARN Maryland IS

Driven by industry experience and data

Collaborative

Dynamic and nimble; responsive to changing industry needs

Industry-wide, long-term solutions to the development of a skilled and responsive workforce

Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation

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What EARN Maryland is NOT

Typical way of doing business

Customized training for an individual employer

A rigid formula

Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation

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What does meaningful industry engagement look like? Industry members actively participate in defining

COMMON workforce and skills needs and challenges

Identify different mechanisms to solicit industry input◦ Meetings or workshops ◦ Surveys◦ Focus groups◦ Other tools common in your industry

Meets current industry demands

Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation

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Lead Applicant can be: Employers Nonprofits Two and four-year institutions of higher

education Local Workforce Boards Industry Associations Labor Unions Local Governments Local and regional economic development

entities

Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation

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Partner Organizations – critical to success of SIP Any of Lead Applicant organizations

plus:

philanthropic organizations

community-based organizationsK-12 programsother training providers and relevant

partners

Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation

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Characteristics of a Strong SIP

Training plan addresses specifics of industry’s critical occupation and skills needs

Focus on short-term training opportunities

Recruitment strategy for training participants is key

Links training strategy to training cohort:

Low- and no-skilled workers – job readiness

Incumbent/entry level workers – industry-identified essential workplace skills

Incumbent workers – career advancement

Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation

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History of EARN Maryland

October 2013: Planning Grant Solicitation December 2013: Planning Grants Awarded January 2014: Implementation Grant Solicitation June 2014: 28 Implementation Grants Awarded November 2014: Second Implementation Grant

Solicitation Released December 2014: 12 Implementation Grants

Awarded

Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation

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EARN Maryland Partnerships

Currently 40 EARN Maryland Partnerships representing every region of the State

Industries include: Biotech

Cybersecurity/IT

Healthcare

Manufacturing

Transportation and Logistics

Construction

Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation

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Regulation

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EARN Maryland by the Numbers As of March 2014:

over 1,500 Maryland workers had participated in training

Over 4,000 will be trained over the life of the program

517 Organizations throughout Maryland including: 325 industry partners

15 community colleges

All 12 of the State’s Workforce Investment Boards

Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation

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Common Themes Among Partnerships Soft Skills Training

Industry Engagement/Employer Led Model is working

Flexibility with grant parameters

Focus on barrier removal is key

Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation

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Regulation

For more information…

Contact: Mary Keller

Office: 410-767-2017

Cell: 443-690-9159

Email: Mary.Keller@Maryland.gov

Website: dllr.maryland.gov | Facebook: DLLR.Maryland

Twitter: @MD_DLLR | MWE-VOS: mwejobs.maryland.gov