Montgomery County Receives Part Of Workforce Innovation Fund Grant

Montgomery County Receives Portion of $11.8 Million Federal Workforce Innovation Fund Grant

Montgomery County is one of ten Maryland jurisdictions (including nine counties and Baltimore City) receiving funding as part of a three-year, $11.8 million Workforce Innovation Fund grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. The Fund supports the launch of a training program for low-skilled job seekers, including individuals with limited English proficiency and individuals with low reading, writing and math skills. The Montgomery County Department of Economic Development’s Division of Workforce Services (DWS) will receive $315,000 over the three-year period. The County will work closely with Montgomery College, which is also receiving funding via the Workforce Innovation Fund.

“This important federal grant will help many Montgomery County residents prepare for better jobs,” said Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett. “Additionally, it strengthens the partnership among local workforce development agencies, community colleges, and related community organizations.”

The Workforce Development Division of Baltimore County’s Department of Economic Development will administer the Accelerating Connections to Employment (ACE) Initiative in nine Maryland counties, Baltimore City, and cities in three other states. The program will incorporate: basic skills, occupational skills, soft skills, and job readiness training; support services; an optional internship or clinical placement; job placement support; and long-term career navigation.

The partnership also includes the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which has been working with Montgomery College and other Maryland community colleges to combine adult education and occupational training to reduce training times for individuals.

The Workforce Innovation Fund grant supports the ACE program in the following Maryland counties: Baltimore; Anne Arundel; Caroline; Dorchester; Kent; Montgomery; Prince George’s; Queen Anne’s; and Talbot, as well as Baltimore City. It also supports programs in Austin, Texas, Atlanta, Georgia, and New Haven, Connecticut.

About Montgomery County’s Division of Workforce Services

DWS ensures that the county has a well-prepared, educated, trained and adaptable workforce to meet the current and future needs of business, and that the county’s workforce has the tools and resources to compete successfully in a global economy. DWS, funded by the federal government, State of Maryland and Montgomery County, is advised by a 30-member Workforce Investment Board (WIB), composed of business representatives (51 percent), community leaders and public officials. DWS staff provides support to the Board by implementing directives and policy initiatives.

The majority of DWS funds are received under the federal Workforce Investment Act to implement the One-Stop career system – operated locally as Montgomery Works in Wheaton and Germantown. The One-Stop centers provide an array of vocational assessment, job readiness and job training and job placement services to dislocated workers, low-income adults, older workers, disadvantaged workers and youth. MontgomeryWorks served more than 14,000 adult and youth residents in FY11 with core services, intensive counseling services and occupational skills training.

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