Maryland Announces EARN Workforce Training Grants

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Maryland has announced nearly 30 recipients of grants for a workforce training initiative.

The Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation on Monday announced planning grants under the EARN initiative to enable partnerships to develop best possible workforce training plans to close gaps in skills and increase employment opportunities.

The department says the average planning grant is $22,000.

The EARN Maryland program for fiscal year 2014 will be distributed in a two-phase competitive process. A total of $4.5 million has been set aside for the program.

The department will host a statewide pre-proposal conference open to any potential EARN Maryland implementation grant applicant. It's scheduled for Jan. 31.

Implementation grants are scheduled to be awarded in June of 2014. They will fund worker training in skills that employers need.
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