ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Wes Moore this week launched new workforce development programs in the public sector and hospitality industry during the Maryland Department of Labor’s third annual Maryland Apprenticeship Awards ceremony. The event, which coincides with National Apprenticeship Week, recognized 32 winners across six categories: Registered Apprentice; Youth Apprentice; Mentor, Business; Local Workforce Board; and Apprenticeship Champion, in addition to naming five new Apprenticeship Ambassadors to the Governor’s Workforce Development Board.

“When we invest in apprenticeships, we empower more people to participate in our economy, no matter their path,” said Gov. Moore. “Today, we are saying, in one voice, that we, as a state, are ready to invest in our future. Today is a celebration of the opportunities we can build when we move in partnership.”

The new initiatives to expand apprenticeship in Maryland include the new Public Sector Registered Apprenticeship Program, a $3 million initiative to support the growth of registered apprenticeships within Maryland’s public sector. The fund will provide grants to public sector entities to create and expand registered apprenticeship opportunities within state, municipal, and local governments and serves as a bold, new career development and retention strategy.

The Maryland Department of Labor is also dedicating $1.6 million to developing a new Maryland Hospitality Management Apprenticeship Program, which will create a pipeline to an associate degree and a management-level position for individuals in the hospitality industry. By partnering with six community colleges across the state, this innovative new program will expand apprenticeship into a non-traditional industry, providing individuals with new career and educational opportunities through hospitality apprenticeships.

Both programs are supported through a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.

“The Maryland Department of Labor is proud to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week and showcase the key success of this program. Maryland is full speed ahead on growing apprenticeship through expanding to new industries, working with schools and colleges, and partnering with communities across the state,” said Maryland Department of Labor Secretary Portia Wu. “Maryland has set ambitious goals for expanding apprenticeship and we mean to meet them. Registered apprenticeship is key to our state’s economic success. We’ve already hit historic highs in apprenticeship adoption and today’s investments will accelerate our progress.”

The governor was joined by Department of Labor Secretary Portia Wu; Department of Disabilities Secretary Carol Beatty, Department of General Services Secretary Atif Chaudhry, Maryland Higher Education Commission Acting Secretary Dr. Sanjay Rai; Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Secretary Carolyn Scruggs. Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, and Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman were also in attendance, along with leaders from Maryland’s hospitality, accounting, traditional trades, information technology, healthcare, manufacturing and labor unions. Additionally, leaders from local school systems and workforce boards were in attendance.

“Royal Farms is excited to launch our registered apprenticeship program to provide opportunities to individuals seeking a career in retail and food service management,” said Royal Farms Director of Training Jessica Mente. “We have created a clear pathway, and timeline, offering all the education and training tools needed for individuals to run a profitable business as a Store Leader for Royal Farms.”

Royal Farms was approved for a registered apprenticeship program during this week’s Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council meeting.