Maryland Governor Announces $22.9 Million Grant To Expand Offshore Wind Workforce

Maryland’s project is one of 32 chosen nationwide out of more than 500 applicants. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo announced the winners earlier today.

“This funding will ensure that Maryland employers and jobseekers stand ready to meet the demands of the flourishing offshore wind industry, which is expected to create more than 10,000 jobs in the State of Maryland and yield an economic impact of nearly $3 billion over the next 20 years in the Baltimore area and Central Maryland alone,” said Governor Hogan. “I want to sincerely thank Secretary Raimondo, Deputy Secretary Graves, and everyone at the U.S. Department of Commerce for recognizing that the State of Maryland truly is open for business, and that we have the tools and the talent necessary to continue building a steady pipeline of well-trained, skilled workers for these jobs of the future.”

In partnership with leading employers—including Chesapeake Shipbuilding, Crystal Steel Fabricators, US Wind, and Orsted Offshore North America—and seven local unions, the Maryland Works For Wind program will build a training model that meets the needs of employers and local communities. With a focus on formerly incarcerated individuals, veterans, disconnected youth, and other underserved populations, Labor will train thousands of individuals to enter well-paying jobs in the industry. Overall, Maryland Works for Wind will place and/or upskill more than 4,300 Marylanders, strategically leverage $30 million in state and employer resources, and foster economic activity in 18 of Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions.

The governor was joined by U.S. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves, Maryland Secretary of Labor Tiffany Robinson, Rep. Kweisi Mfume, Rep. John Sarbanes, and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski.

“The Biden Administration applauds Maryland Department of Labor’s efforts to boost the state’s growing offshore wind industry,” said Deputy Secretary Graves. “This EDA investment will create new job training opportunities that will lead to good-paying, clean energy jobs for local workers.”

Workforce development has been a top priority throughout the Hogan administration, including:

• The P-TECH education model, which gives young Marylanders the opportunity to earn a no-cost, two-year associate degree simultaneously with their high school diploma, while also getting the benefit of mentors and paid summer internships.
• Eliminating the four-year degree requirement for thousands of state jobs, a first-in-the-nation workforce initiative to promote opportunities for individuals who have a high school diploma or equivalent, and have developed their skills through alternate routes such as community college, apprenticeships, military service, boot camps, and most commonly, on the job.
• An expansion of registered apprenticeships to record levels, offering apprenticeships not just in the construction trades, but also in cybersecurity, information technology, digital and social media, and healthcare occupations.
• More than doubling funding for EARN Maryland, the state’s nationally-recognized program that connects partners with industry stakeholders. A recent study on the return on investment for the EARN program revealed that for every $1 of state funding invested, an additional $17.32 in economic impact is created.