GOVERNOR O’MALLEY ISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDER TO PROMOTE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY HIRING

ANNAPOLIS, MD – As part of the O'Malley-Brown Administration's ongoing focus on job training, Governor Martin O'Malley issued an Executive Order directing State agencies to promote apprenticeship programs and encourage hiring in priority areas. The Order is part of the Administration's ongoing efforts to strengthen the middle class by ensuring Marylanders have the skills necessary to compete in the 21st Century economy.

Under the Executive Order, State agencies are encouraged to award credit in the procurement process to contractors that agree to participate in registered apprenticeship programs. The Executive Order also encourages contractors to submit voluntary plans for community outreach and hiring in areas of high unemployment.

"In Maryland, our people are our greatest asset," said Governor O'Malley. "When investing in our State infrastructure, we must also seize the opportunity to develop critical job skills needed in construction, and to expand employment opportunities for Marylanders, particularly in areas with high unemployment. This Executive Order will allow us to continue our efforts to expand opportunities for middle class families, and build an economy that creates prosperity for Maryland from the middle out."

The procurement guidelines direct State agencies to consider on a project-by-project basis whether promoting apprenticeship programs and community hiring is in the best interests of the State, after considering a broad range of factors, including the size and complexity of the project and the impact on project costs, if any. Contractors who agree to participate in apprenticeship programs are authorized to execute either a project labor agreement or an apprenticeship agreement with an operator of a program that is registered with the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council.