Maryland Receives $22.9M Grant to Expand Offshore Wind Workforce

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Maryland Department of Labor has received a $22.9 million Good Jobs Challenge grant from the federal government to help it implement a new apprenticeship model to support the region’s growing offshore wind industry.

The Maryland project was one of 32 winners chosen nationwide out of more than 500 applicants.

“This funding will ensure that Maryland employers and job seekers 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,” Gov. Larry Hogan said during a ceremony at Tradepoint Atlantic, a 3,300-acre global logistics center located in Sparrows Point, Maryland.

Hogen went on to thank Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and other department officials for recognizing “that the state of Maryland is truly 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.”

The Maryland Works For Wind program is a partnership among the state, leading employers such as Chesapeake Shipbuilding, Crystal Steel Fabricators, US Wind, and Orsted Offshore North America, and seven local unions.

The program’s charge is to 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.

Overall, Maryland Works for Wind is expected to place 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.

Joining Hogan at the celebratory event were Deputy Commerce Secretary Don Graves, Maryland Secretary of Labor Tiffany Robinson, Rep. Kweisi Mfume, D-Md., Rep. John Sarbanes, D-Md., 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,” Deputy Secretary Graves said. 

“This EDA investment will create new job training opportunities that will lead to good-paying, clean energy jobs for local workers,” he added.

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