Both Baltimore and Carroll County community colleges are using recent grant awards to improve technical education programs for skilled trades, as Maryland reports show ongoing lag in this area.
Funding to support workforce development programs, specifically focusing on training and skills for high-demand fields, has been a recent fixture of development in some local community colleges. Baltimore County’s community college received over $600,000 from the Lowes Foundation earlier this summer and Carroll County’s facility received over $2.5M through the Philip E. & Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation. These grants underscore the importance of community partnerships to address workforce needs, particularly at these foundational local institutes.
Kelly Koermer, Vice President of Workforce, Business & Community Education at Carroll Community College, shared her enthusiasm.
“This program will equip people, families, and, ultimately, communities with strong earning potential and career longevity. Our students will gain cutting-edge skills while the community and surrounding region benefit from a skilled workforce that drives economic growth.”
These investments came as the most recent State of the Economy report continued to highlight Maryland’s lagging availability of individuals for skilled trades. At the Carroll County Community College a new, state-of-the-art Ratcliffe Applied Technology and Trades Center will aim to alleviate industry shortages by offering training programs in welding, automotive technology, HVAC, manufacturing, plumbing, carpentry, animal grooming, entrepreneurship, and more. Students will receive hands-on training, and the grant will also provide scholarships, stipends, and tools. In Baltimore County the funds will go towards an expansion of the college’s HVAC and building maintenance programs at the Dundalk campus, which will include modernizing labs and equipment and expanding course offerings.
