EARN Maryland is a state-funded, competitive workforce development grant program that is industry-led, regional in focus, and proven to help businesses cultivate the skilled workforce they need to compete.

EARN Maryland is flexible and innovative, designed to ensure that Maryland employers have the talent they need to compete and grow in an ever-changing 21st century economy. The program aims to:

• Address the demands of businesses by focusing intensively on the workforce needs of a specific industry sector over a sustained period.
• Address the needs of workers by creating formal career paths to good jobs, reducing barriers to employment, and sustaining or growing middle class jobs.
• Encourage mobility for Maryland’s most hard-to-serve jobseekers through job readiness training which may include GED® preparation, occupational skills development, literacy advancement, and transportation and childcare components.

How Does EARN Maryland Work?

EARN Maryland invests in strategic industry partnerships from key economic sectors in every region. These partnerships will use the power of coordination across education, workforce, and economic development initiatives to address the multiple needs of companies, starting with the training of skilled workers. Once formed, the partnerships will develop plans to train and educate workers – and place them in meaningful employment.

Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center (ESAHEC) collaborates with the three local colleges on the Eastern Shore – Cecil, Chesapeake, and Wor-Wic – for the EARN Ready to Care partnership. This partnership is responsible for training and placing Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) throughout the Eastern Shore.

Funder: Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation

• On July 1, 2022, ESAHEC will enter its fifth round of funding from EARN.
• Each funding period lasts two (2) years
• To date, the partnership, led by ESAHEC has trained and placed 144 CNAs.