WIOA State Plan Common Elements

(D) Coordination, Alignment and Provision of Services to Employers. Describe how the entities carrying out the respective core programs, any Combined State Plan partner program included in this plan, required and optional AJC partner programs will coordinate activities and resources to provide comprehensive, high-quality services to employers to meet their current and projected workforce needs and to achieve the goals of industry or sector partners in the state. The activities described shall conform to the statutory requirements of each program.

As the most direct beneficiaries of a strong pipeline of skilled workers, Maryland businesses are a primary driver for and consumer of the State’s workforce system. All of Maryland’s workforce system partners proactively engage businesses early and often in the development of services, to ensure workforce solutions meet quality criteria and are responsive to employer needs. In addition to working with businesses to innovate new workforce solutions, the State’s workforce system must also ensure businesses are benefiting from the wide array of existing professional development, support services, and incumbent worker resources available through Maryland’s network of AJCs. 

Two metrics are defined in the Benchmarks of Success for Maryland’s Workforce System to evaluate the performance of the State’s WIOA partners in providing employers with coordinated, aligned services. At a strategic level, Maryland WIOA partners will track the increased earning capacity of Maryland’s workforce system customers by maximizing access to employment. One of the benchmark measures under development to support this strategic goal is to assess whether, and to what extent, the workforce system is successful in increasing the number of businesses formally engaged in the workforce system over time. Tying the two together, Maryland’s workforce system’s success will be measured, in part, by determining how effective the system is in connecting employers with the talent they need, both in terms of the numbers of individuals hired and the frequency with which employers become return customers.

GWDB

The GWDB is Governor Hogan’s chief policy-making body for Maryland’s workforce development system, dedicated to promoting comprehensive planning and coordination of employment and training programs in the State. The GWDB advises the State’s workforce system regarding strategies for conducting outreach to Maryland’s businesses, effectively utilizing Labor Market Information, and developing innovative workforce development practices to meet training needs. In accordance with the key role businesses play and the specific board composition requirements of WIOA, the GWDB is comprised of a business-majority membership. Following the GWDB’s model and per WIOA requirements, the State similarly requires Local Boards to develop business-majority Board memberships. Local Areas must also outline in their local WIOA plans how they intend to provide a greater business voice in local workforce services.

Maryland’s State Plan partners are all represented on the GWDB, and thus this serves as the primary entity that drives employer voice in the State’s WIOA programming. Through these connections, partners such as WIOA Title I and Title III interact with businesses to gauge evolving trends, demand, and how to fill critical vacancies. Title II learns of the academic demands related to literacy and numeracy that employers require in their workplaces. Title IV utilizes GWDB connections to further develop opportunities aligned with integrating individuals with varying levels of ability into Maryland’s workforce. And finally, SCSEP, TANF, TAA, DUI, JVSG, and CSBG staff are able to align the training services for jobseekers with the hiring practices/requirements of the State’s business community.

Maryland’s Business Services Team

The Business Services Team exists to help companies grow and thrive, to foster economic development and stability, and to ensure that Marylanders have opportunities for gainful employment. The State’s WIOA partners work together to provide businesses with quality customer service through the Maryland Business Services Team, which is comprised of MD Labor staff, local workforce staff, and other locally determined partners. Together, the members of the Business Services Team partner with companies throughout the State to understand their unique needs and proactively assist them in creating effective workforce development strategies. A diverse coalition of organizations participate in business service activities:

• MD Labor, DWDAL;
• Local Boards;
• Maryland Department of Commerce;
• DHS;
• MSDE;
• Maryland Department of Disabilities;
• Local economic development agencies;
• Public libraries;
• Faith-based and community-based organizations;
• Chambers of Commerce;
• Industry associations; and
• Maryland businesses, colleges, and universities.

The Business Services Team strategically utilizes the resources and expertise of the above noted organizations to develop business solutions that meet employer workforce needs, supporting company stabilization and growth throughout the business life cycle.

To gain a deeper understanding of the services different partners have to contribute, the Business Services Team engages in frequent communication with all parties. The bank of shared knowledge and resources that this level of communication and coordination builds enables Business Services Team members to refer businesses to the partner organizations best positioned to provide assistance. Recognizing that a workforce system disconnected from business lacks credibility and fails to meet the needs of jobseekers, the WIOA Partners are dedicated to creating an industry-driven solution to workforce development. Business partners are centrally involved in identifying workforce needs, developing curriculum, designing trainings, and placing successful participants. The full engagement of business in the process builds employer confidence that program participants are proficient in relevant skill sets.

EARN Maryland

The EARN program, is a nationally recognized, State-funded competitive workforce development grant program that is industry-led, regional in focus, and a proven strategy for helping businesses cultivate the skilled workforce they need to compete. It is flexible and innovative, designed to ensure that Maryland employers have the talent they need to compete and grow in an ever-changing 21st century economy.

The goals of EARN are to:

• Address the demands of businesses by focusing intensively on the workforce needs of a specific industry sector over a sustained period.
• Address the needs of workers by creating formal career paths to good jobs, reducing barriers to employment, and sustaining or growing middle class jobs.
• Encourage mobility for Maryland's most hard-to-serve jobseekers through job readiness training, which may include GED^® preparation, occupational skills development, literacy advancement, and transportation and childcare components.

EARN invests in strategic industry partnerships from key economic sectors in every region, coordinating educational, workforce and economic development initiatives to address the multiple needs of companies, starting with the training of skilled workers.

While traditional workforce programs often look to training entities or higher education to determine training needs and develop curriculum, EARN’s innovative model asks business and industry partners to identify skills gaps and workforce training needs, as well as effective training strategies and techniques for identified skill sets. Essentially, the direct involvement of employers is required at every step in the process.

Because EARN targets services to individuals with barriers to employment, the provision of wrap around services are a crucial element in the model’s success. Strategic Industry Partnerships who are awarded EARN grants must include at least two “diverse partners,” often nonprofit organizations or Local Boards with extensive experience in barrier removal. Training plans must describe how support services, including barrier removal services, will holistically meet participant needs.