U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Maryland PYs 2020-2023
C

WIOA State Plan Common Elements

Located in:
  • III. Operational Planning Elements

    The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that supports the State’s strategy and the system-wide vision described in Section II(c) above.  Unless otherwise noted, all Operational Planning Elements apply to Combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs.  This section must include—

    • a. State Strategy Implementation

      The Unified or Combined State Plan must include–

      • 2. Implementation of State Strategy

        Describe how the lead State agency with responsibility for the administration of each core program or a Combined Plan partner program included in this plan will implement the State’s Strategies identified in Section II(c). above. This must include a description of—

III. a. 2. G. Leveraging Resources to Increase Educational Access

Describe how the State’s strategies will enable the State to leverage other Federal, State, and local investments that have enhanced access to workforce development programs at the above institutions, described in section (E).

View corresponding narrative from PYs 2018-2019

Current Narrative:

(G) Leveraging Resources to Increase Educational Access. Describe how the State’s strategies will enable the State to leverage other Federal, State, and local investments that have enhanced access to workforce development programs at the above institutions, described in section (E).

Maryland will continue to leverage and coordinate Federal, State and local investments to enhance access to workforce development programs. Active examples of such activities include:

EARN Maryland (EARN)

EARN is a State-funded competitive grant program established to support workforce programs that are industry-led and regional in focus. EARN is comprised of Strategic Industry Partnerships (SIPs) that represent a variety of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, construction, and biotechnology. An educational partner is a requirement of the grant, creating an important avenue to postsecondary education and training resources.

Career Pathways

Maryland continues to build on previously implemented multi-year pilots of the Maryland Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (MI-BEST) program and the Accelerating Connections to Employment (ACE) initiative to drive and strengthen career pathways. In October of 2016, the State committed $1,000,000 of WIOA Governor set aside funds to invest in demonstration projects that support career pathway initiatives. The grant, which targets low-skilled jobseekers, including individuals with LEP and those with low reading, writing, and math skills who may lack high school diplomas, is designed to drive greater co-enrollment between WIOA Title I and Title II programming. 

MD Labor has developed a Career Pathways grant program to expand opportunities for adult learners throughout the state. Under the program, Maryland’s WIOA Local Boards (Title I providers) and Adult Education organizations (Title II providers) could apply for up to $250,000 to develop innovative demonstration projects with a consortium of local partners, including adult education providers and business partners. To date, MD Labor has awarded a total of $1.5 million in grant funds in three funding rounds.

RAs

USDOL grant funds awarded to Maryland in 2016 for the acceleration and expansion of RA opportunities in the State allowed MD Labor to invest in programs that support and enhance RA expansion strategies, particularly for vulnerable populations, youth, and dislocated workers. Several funding awards have been made. Work in this area is ongoing.