Governor Larry Hogan, Labor Secretary Kelly Schulz Attend EARN Program Graduation at Arcon Welding

Hogan Administration Approved Arcon EARN Grant to Meet Regional Employer Demand

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan and Maryland Secretary of Labor, Licensing & Regulation (DLLR) Kelly M. Schulz today joined Katarina Ennerfelt, president and CEO of Toroid Corporation/Arcon Welding Equipment, for a tour of the Salisbury facility and to attend an EARN graduation ceremony.

The Employment Advancement Right Now, or EARN, Program is an innovative DLLR initiative that helps businesses cultivate the skilled workforce they need to compete while helping prepare Marylanders for meaningful careers. Through EARN, the state invests in employer-led skills training in some of the most high-demand sectors: construction, advanced manufacturing, cyber security, and wellness.

Arcon Welding Equipment recently received a State EARN grant as part of a partnership between Wor-Wic Community College, Toroid (who created Arcon Welding Services), the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance, Quality Staffing Services, and other employer partners.

“Congratulations to today’s graduates who, after 13 hours of rigorous training, are now eligible to test for certifications that open the door to high-wage, high-demand jobs,” said Governor Hogan. “By supporting EARN and other innovative programs that address regional workforce needs, our administration remains committed to ensuring Maryland employers have the talent they need to compete in and contribute to Maryland’s growing economy.”

This is the second group of Arcon Welding/EARN graduates who are now qualified for high-demand, high-wage jobs. Through EARN and other top-notch programs, the Hogan administration is working to ensure that Maryland employers have the talent they need to compete and grow in an ever-changing 21st-century economy.

"At the Maryland Department of Labor, we are equipping Maryland workers with the skills that businesses need to thrive through our workforce initiatives such as EARN, and we are dedicated to providing Maryland employers and workers with opportunities to ensure that Maryland is open for business,” said Secretary Schulz. "This is an example of an EARN success story, and we are appreciative of our ongoing partnerships with local businesses that are helping to lead workforce into the future."

"Arcon Welding Services Training Center is a community effort. Through Governor Hogan's EARN program, businesses, academia, local governments, and the state have joined forces with a single goal in mind, to match our workforce with industry needs," said Ms. Ennerfelt. "Together, we are giving people the opportunity to train for good-paying jobs."

This EARN partnership, made possible through a grant approved by the Hogan administration, works to address the specific workforce needs of lower Eastern Shore regional manufacturing and fabrication companies--for short-term sustainability and growth.