ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Wes Moore’s office on Friday announced nearly $600,000 in grant awards aimed at strengthening Maryland’s healthcare workforce by providing career pathways and improving retention among professionals. The funding, distributed through two programs, will support occupational training for more than 300 healthcare workers.
The grants are a part of the administration’s effort to address a critical need for skilled healthcare professionals in the state.
“You cannot have a strong healthcare system without skilled healthcare professionals at the helm, from physicians to technicians,” Governor Moore said. “In partnership with our allies in healthcare, the private sector, and organized labor, we are building a stronger pipeline to good-paying jobs that uplift our communities and keep our people healthy.”
A total of nearly $340,000 will be provided through the Career Pathways for Healthcare Workers Program to eight healthcare organizations. This funding will be used to upskill frontline employees and provide training to accelerate credentialing and increase wages for professionals such as nursing assistants, patient care technicians, and surgical technologists. Grantees include Johns Hopkins Hospital, Shore Health System, Inc., Holy Cross Health, Inc., and UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center.
An additional $240,000 in matching grants will be distributed through the Direct Care Workforce Innovation Program. This program is designed to help employers and workforce organizations recruit, retain, and advance direct care workers, who provide essential assistance with daily living tasks. The grants will cover occupational training, licensing costs, and wraparound services like transportation to help workers succeed. The Asian American Center of Frederick, 1199 SEIU, and Employ Prince George’s are among the grantees.
Maryland Department of Labor Secretary Portia Wu highlighted the impact of the investment. “These investments in Maryland’s healthcare workforce will address a critical need for more healthcare workers in our state, and support workers who want to enter healthcare fields and advance their careers,” Wu said. “Having more highly-skilled healthcare workers will directly improve health outcomes for Marylanders.”
Maryland Department of Health Secretary Dr. Meena Seshamani echoed that sentiment, stating that a strong healthcare workforce is vital for public health and that the funds will help build sustainable career paths.
