BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland Department of Labor Secretary Tiffany P. Robinson on Wednesday announced that the Dept. of Labor will be awarding nearly $17 million in federal funds to local organizations that will help expand access to adult education opportunities for Marylanders.

The Dept. of Labor is now accepting proposals for these grant funds to support local programs in adult basic and secondary education, English language acquisition, and civics education.

“Labor welcomes the opportunity to receive proposals from these local organizations that play such an important role in supporting adult learners while they achieve their personal and professional goals,” said Secretary Robinson. “By investing in and increasing access to adult education programs, we are helping Marylanders obtain the skills they need to build a better future for themselves, their families, and our state’s workforce.”

A wide range of organizations are eligible and encouraged to submit proposals for Labor’s adult education funding, including: local education agencies, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, volunteer literacy organizations, institutions of higher education, public, private, or nonprofit agencies, libraries, public housing authorities, and more.

This funding opportunity is part of Maryland’s implementation of the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which serves both jobseekers and businesses. WIOA addresses the needs of jobseekers, including adult learners, by establishing a workforce system that helps them access education, training, and support services to gain employment and succeed in the labor market. Maryland’s implementation of WIOA supports employer needs by preparing the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy.

To be eligible for this funding, completed applications must be submitted to Labor’s Adult Education Office by 4:00 p.m. on March 2, 2020. An Intent to Apply notice should be submitted by February 14, 2020. Award announcements will be made in May. To access application materials, please visit the Adult Education and Literacy Services grant page.

The Dept. of Labor will be holding a Technical Assistance Webinar for interested applicants on January 31, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact Chief of Adult Instructional Services Ellen Beattie by emailing [email protected] or calling 410-767-0161.