Howard Community College Secures $50k Grant for Workforce Development

A new grant will empower Howard Community College to equip students with cutting-edge skills for high-demand careers, fueling economic mobility.

Howard Community College is making an exciting announcement that will pave the way for Maryland’s economic mobility and workforce readiness. The Truist Foundation has awarded a $50,000 grant to support the forthcoming Cathy & Danny Bell Workforce Development and Trades Center, which is estimated to open in the fall of 2026 and will enhance career pathways for local students and the county’s economic landscape.

The grant will fund cutting-edge equipment for the college’s industrial training programs, which span high-tech and skilled trades like mechatronics, information technology and cybersecurity, HVAC, construction management, and welding.

From the press release:

“Thank you to President Jay Turakhia and everyone at the Truist Foundation for seeing the future of stable growth for families and communities in our county and meeting the students who will power this growth where they dream,” said Howard Community College President Daria J. Willis.

Howard County Community College has a strong track record in workforce development. The college is Maryland’s top producer of registered apprenticeships, fostering cybersecurity, healthcare, childcare, hospitality, tourism, and construction talent. This new facility will build on the momentum of the college’s recent enrollment growth and successful dual enrollment partnerships with the Howard County Public School System, broadening opportunities for students of all backgrounds to excel in liberal arts and skilled trades.

The college’s contributions to workforce development and economic growth add over $343 million annually to Howard County’s economy. The center will further Howard Community College’s mission to empower students, strengthen the local workforce, and inspire economic resilience for future generations.

Read the full press release.

At the 2024 MACo Winter Conference affiliate session, “Talent Transformation: Empowering Experience and Elevating New Talent,” an esteemed panel of workforce development leaders and policy experts will explore strategies for managing an aging workforce and strengthening talent pipelines for young adults and non-traditional workers. The 2024 MACo Winter Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel in Cambridge, MD from December 11-13. This year’s theme is “Anticipate, Adapt, Achieve: Thriving Through Turbulent Times.”

Learn more about MACo’s Winter Conference: