Maryland Announces 2017 Jobs Initiative
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan unveiled the 2017 Maryland Jobs Initiative, a comprehensive legislative package that will provide incentives for the creation of thousands of jobs and $5 million in strategic investments in education and workforce training to put even more Marylanders back to work in a recent news release.
“As the centerpiece of this initiative, the governor announced the More Jobs for Marylanders Act, a proposal to create thousands of jobs and attract businesses by eliminating all state taxes for ten years for new manufacturing employers that create jobs in high unemployment areas. The legislation will also include tax incentives for current employers who expand their workforce in these areas.”
“We are very excited about this Maryland Jobs Initiative which will help us create thousands of jobs, particularly in those areas of our state where we desperately need them the most,” said Governor Hogan. We look forward to working closely together with our local partners and with our colleagues in the legislature to make this Maryland Jobs Initiative program a reality.”
The governor’s 2017 Maryland Jobs Initiative include the following proposals:
More Jobs for Marylanders Act: As the centerpiece of Governor Hogan’s Maryland Jobs Initiative, this proposed legislation will to create thousands of jobs where they are needed most by eliminating all state taxes for ten years for new manufacturing employers that create jobs in high unemployment areas.
P-TECH Expansion: Governor Hogan announced additional investments to open six new Pathways in Technology Early College (P-TECH) high schools throughout the state, as well as funding to support students currently enrolled at existing P-TECH schools. P-TECH, co-developed by IBM, is an innovative, nationally recognized education model that blends high school, college, and work experience into one innovative program where graduates obtain a two-year associate degree in a STEM career field at no additional cost.
Maryland Partnership for Workforce Quality: The governor announced a $1 million investment for this program to encourage businesses to invest in employee training, ultimately making Maryland more competitive by ensuring that the state’s workforce has access to the most up-to-date skills needed in an ever-changing job landscape.
Cyber Jobs Training Grants: The Hogan administration will make a $3 million investment to provide funding for cyber job training grants, modeled after Maryland’s nationally recognized Employment Advancement Right Now (EARN) workforce training program.
FMI Read the news article here: http://governor.maryland.gov/2017/01/05/governor-larry-hogan-announces-2017-maryland-jobs-initiative/.
Massachusetts Governor Modeling School Success. Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced in his State of the Commonwealth address that he will be looking to the Springfield schools as a model for how to assist struggling schools around the state.
“Governor Baker cited Springfield’s use of “empowerment zones” as a policy that can be expanded. Empowerment zones, partnerships between schools, state officials and unions, let schools make their own decisions on things like hiring, scheduling, budgeting and curriculum, rather than having those decisions made at a district level.”
“These zones create more flexibility in schools. And allow educators to make the changes necessary to provide a better learning environment for our kids,” Baker said in his address. “In Springfield, this model is already making a positive difference for teachers and students.” Baker said he will work with State Sen. Eric Lesser, D-Longmeadow, and State Rep. Alice Peisch, D-Wellesley, who have introduced bills to create more empowerment zones around the state.
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