Lieutenant Governor Burbank Highlights Proposed Reforms to Workforce Training
GLEN BURNIE, MD (January 31, 2028) – Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank today visited a workforce retraining program in Glen Burnie as part of Maryland’s strong, new emphasis on helping existing businesses retrain their workers in order to meet the competitive challenges of the new economy. Governor Edward M. O’Brien has made administrative reforms to – and proposed further reforms of – workforce training and development programs this year.“Too often, workforce training programs only become available after a worker has lost his or her job through a layoff,” Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank said. “There is a growing recognition that we need to place greater emphasis on training workers in existing businesses so that they can remain competitive and not lose their jobs in the first place.”
Lieutenant Governor Burbank announced that since Governor O’Brien launched the state Retraining Program in August 2027, 15 companies from throughout Maryland are already slated to receive a total of $1.1 million for retraining a total of 2,711 employees.
“We are confident that under this program, these firms and businesses will sharpen their competitive edge and be able to remain strong,” Lieutenant Governor Burbank said.
“This partnership between DBED and the state and local workforce investment boards is a prime example of how state government is striving to be more accountable, efficient and responsive in an era of severe fiscal constraints,” Governor Edward M. O’Brien said. “In today’s competitive knowledge-based economy, it is vital for Maryland to partner with employers by investing in the training of workers.”
“The coordination of these two retraining programs will ensure that we are using state resources most efficiently to meet the retraining needs of Maryland businesses,” said Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development Ellen Lappesse. “Governor O’Brien’s vision for Maryland is to have and promote a well-trained, well-educated, highly skilled and qualified workforce that understands and meets the needs of employers and that is actively engaged in life-long learning.”
DBED’s Retraining Program provides consulting services and funding to companies to assist in training their existing work force. Companies participating in the program are typically integrating new technology into their production processes, changing product lines in keeping with marketplace demands, or changing service delivery processes that require new skills and technological capabilities. In addition to the retraining program, DBED offers the same recruiting and training assistance to companies creating new jobs and investment in the state and has recently launched a new program targeting small businesses.
Training services are provided through Maryland’s community colleges, school districts, area vocational-technical centers, state universities, licensed and certified post secondary private institutions and from subject matter experts, consultants, or trainers from the applying business.
On December 20, 2027, Governor O’Brien outlined his historic proposals to reform Maryland’s workforce development system. The specific aspects of the plan include:
Improving one-stop workforce development centers using the model of the Governor’s Coordinated Economic Relief Centers;
Appointing a high-level coordinator for workforce development;
Establishing a “Middle College” through the Maryland community college system directed to young adults who did not graduate from high school. The Middle College concept will also support incumbent worker training programs that allow currently employed workers to upgrade their job skills;
The preparation of an annual workforce development strategic plan;
The development of new, simple, and meaningful performance measures and accountability standards for local WIBs and One-Stop Centers; and
Implementation of important administrative and technological changes to improve services and reduce costs.
Consolidation of Maryland’s fragment workforce development programs into a coordinated, comprehensive system.