The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Employment Development (MOED) and the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) a two-year $5 million dollar grant to develop innovative job training strategies and work opportunities for at-risk youth and young adults in Baltimore through the One Baltimore for Jobs initiative. As announced in a DLLR news release:

“This Administration remains committed to getting Baltimore back on its feet. To provide economic stability and opportunity for Baltimore City, we must all work together to help build a stronger economy in our state,” said Governor Hogan. These funds will bring together employers, anchor institutions, and nonprofits to build on best practices and unify efforts to provide needed services, skills training and real job opportunities to at-risk and in-need individuals.”

“Part of our agency’s mission is to cultivate a thriving workforce that can meet the demands of Maryland’s dynamic economy, said Kelly M. Schulz, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation. “What better way to do that than by preparing our young people for the jobs through the One Baltimore for Jobs initiative where participants will receive meaningful work experiences to ensure they are ready to work and have the skills needed to be successful in the workplace.”

The project will target unemployed individuals in predominantly African-American, low-income neighborhoods in Baltimore City, with an emphasis on areas hard hit by damage caused by the civil unrest of April 27th, 2015.

For more information read the full DLLR news release.