Today, Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced a partnership with Good Jobs Economy.
“We are excited to partner with Good Jobs Economy, launched by America Achieves as part of the National Governor’s Association Chair’s Initiative, to expand access to high-quality jobs for more Marylanders,” said Moore. “We’ll deploy state, philanthropic, and federal funding to scale what works, modernize our talent systems, and ensure Marylanders can access good jobs—while giving employers the talent they need.”
The Moore-Miller Administration will prioritize workforce development in high-demand sectors such as health care, information technology, cybersecurity, life sciences, and aerospace.
Investing in High-Quality Programs
Governor Moore will identify and fund the development, implementation, and growth of evidence-based, scalable programs and career pathways that train and place residents into good local jobs – especially in priority industries and occupations. This will include $25 million in public funding through Governor Moore’s nationally recognized EARN program and the Registered Apprenticeship Investments for a Stronger Economy (RAISE) Act, $15 million in aligned philanthropic funding, with additional public and private investments to be made in the future focused on the industries and sectors prioritized by the Moore-Miller Administration and employers.
The $15 million in committed private sector funding over three years is to support innovative, high-impact workforce development initiatives that include the creation of a revolving workforce fund to support low-cost nursing pathways, a statewide strategy for high school career counseling, and stronger employer connections for underrepresented tech talent.
Over the next two years, the Administration expects to support over 14,000 Marylanders to enhance their job skills to prepare workers for good jobs in select high-growth industries and high-demand occupations, focusing on programs with close employer partnerships and on specific jobs and skills identified as priorities by leading employers. The funding will help develop, modify, and scale programs to keep pace with employer hiring needs as well as support implementation. They will also measure and evaluate the impact on outcomes, including job attainment, wage gain, and earning employer-valued credentials. Results of these programs will inform future state policy design.
The EARN program equips residents with in-demand skills and has demonstrated a return of more than $18 for every $1 invested. To date, it has engaged over 1,200 businesses and helped more than 10,000 workers access meaningful employment. The RAISE Act builds on this success by expanding access to Registered Apprenticeships and creating new pathways to good, family-sustaining jobs.
Building Talent Systems
In addition, Governor Moore will partner with Good Jobs Economy to build a more integrated and responsive talent system that adapts more quickly to changes in the job market and supports inclusive economic growth. This system will use data, technology, and updated curriculum and training opportunities to equip Maryland’s workforce for the jobs of the future.
At the same time, the partnership will develop a policy framework and process designed to ensure the effective deployment of recently expanded Pell Grants that become available July 1, 2026 for short-term workforce training programs.
To support these goals, the partnership will assess and lay the foundation for how the state:
For more information, please reach out to Special Assistant to the CEO, Kristy King-Pritzl at kristy@goodjobseconomy.org.
