Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership Works to Grow Manufacturing in Maryland

For Immediate Release                                                                

February 20, 2014

Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership Works to Grow Manufacturing in Maryland

Federally Funded Nonprofit Organization Works to Improve MD Workforce and Advance Manufacturing in the State

Columbia, Md. - The Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MD MEP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing manufacturing in the State of Maryland, today announced that the organization was recently awarded two grants under the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation’s Employment Advancement Right Now (EARN) program in order to implement new programs to benefit manufacturers statewide.

The Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership is a nonprofit organization committed to growing manufacturing in the State of Maryland.  The MD MEP is the State of Maryland’s only federally recognized and funded resource for manufacturing in the state.  MD MEP’s goal is to make manufacturers in the state more profitable by offering a range of resources and services to help individual companies as well as the entire manufacturing industry. Through collaborative efforts and strategic partnerships with the Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland and the Maryland World Class Consortium, MD MEP strives to strengthen the quality of the workforce in the state, improve upon the skills and expertise of candidates in the manufacturing industry, and contribute to the economic growth of the State of Maryland.

“We are thrilled to have been selected by the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation’s EARN program to help carry forward our mission of growing manufacturing in the State of Maryland,” said Brian Sweeney, Executive Director “We look forward to helping Maryland manufacturers compete nationally and globally by strengthening their workforce and providing employees with the training and education necessary to succeed.”

MD MEP’s range of services include: strategic consulting to assess growth plans and operational execution, training solutions to develop a strong workforce and internal organization, CEO solutions which include leadership development and networking opportunities, scalable business solutions to review and implement business and organizational development, and technology adoption and development opportunities to grow and advance manufacturing.

MD MEP engages in strategic partnerships with organizations across Maryland. These partners offer support through a variety of services and funding. MD MEP’s partners include: the Maryland World Class Consortia (MWCC), the Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland (RMI), Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) and the Maryland Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation (DLLR).

In support of their services, MD MEP was recently awarded two state funded grants under the Employment Advancement Right Now (EARN) program, a national effort to involve employers in developing a skilled workforce and providing targeted education to Maryland workers. MD MEP’s EARN grants will fund the organization’s two new initiatives, Maryland Manufacturing Bootcamp and Maryland Manufacturing Incumbent Workforce Training Reimbursement Program.

MD MEP’s Maryland Manufacturing Bootcamp will develop a “boot camp” style program to increase the employability and skills of potential workers statewide. This eight week long course will involve a baseline skills assessment and teach candidates basic entry level skills including, but not limited to; work ethic, job readiness, professionalism, problem solving, basic math and English, communication and basic manufacturing  skills. Employers will then have the opportunity to hire employees who have the necessary entry-level skills to succeed in their industry.

The second program MD MEP will implement with the support of their EARN grants is the Maryland Manufacturing Workforce Training Reimbursement Program. This program will help to alleviate the costs and difficulty of providing quality training for incumbent workers by reimbursing the employee or company for half of the costs. This program will allow employees to expand their skill set and develop their expertise in order to better prepare themselves to take on more responsibility and work as they grow in their respective field.

About Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MD MEP):

Founded in 2004 to respond to the needs of manufacturers nationwide, in 2013 the MD MEP redirected its focus solely on the State of Maryland.  The Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership strives to make manufacturing a growing and profitable industry in the State of Maryland by providing resources and services to manufacturers statewide. Through collaborative efforts and strategic partnerships, MD MEP helps its clients expand their business, educate their workforce, and create mutually beneficial connections with other Maryland businesses. For more information, please visit www.mdmep.org. 

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