Prince George’s County Earns National Award for Employment and Training

As the State’s Department of Education and Labor, Licensing and Regulation begin to building a new apprenticeship pilot program under Apprenticeship Maryland, Prince George’s County has received national recognition for Tech Prince George’s, a program to develop a career pipeline and interceptive strategies to improve student matriculation and eventual career success in technology fields.

As described by the National Association of Counties press release for the National Achievement Award for Employment and Training for County Residents, the goal of the Prince George’s County program is to identify and develop students in the Prince George’s County who have demonstrated a sustained aptitude and interest in IT and to cultivate their educational and career growth so that they become future contributors to the economic success and viability of Prince George’s County. This is made possible through partnerships between Prince George’s County Government, Prince George’s County Public School System (PGCPS), institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations and private industry.

“We take great pride in our innovative IT efforts to engage our residents, employees and summer youth students. It is great to be recognized with this honor by NACo,” said Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III. “We are always happy to share best practices and welcome inquiries to help other government IT interested in expanding their programs.”

As described on the Prince George’s County website, the program began in the summer of 2014, when eighteen public school students were divided into six teams that were mentored by business students from Bowie State University. Each team was charged with using technology to address some of the most challenging issues facing the County’s six Transforming Neighborhoods Initiative (TNI) communities of

  • Langley Park
  • East Riverdale/Bladensburg
  • Kentland/Palmer
  • Park Hillcrest Heights/Marlow Heights
  • Suitland
  • Glassmanor/Oxon Hill.

Read more on the STEAM Teams’ projects and presentations.  View the showcase ceremony video.

Tech Prince George’s and progress on statewide apprenticeship programs was the focus of a recent MACo’s Summer conference session. For more information, see our post, State Leaders Share Achievements, Aspirations for Apprenticeships in Maryland.