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Registered Apprenticeship for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals Pilot Program - Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Program (MATP)

OVERVIEW
The Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning administers the Registered Apprenticeship for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals Pilot Program. This program was enacted as a consequence of the 2019 passage of House Bill 1167 – Labor and Employment - Apprenticeship Career Training Pilot Program for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals – Establishment.

MD Labor may receive an allocation of up to $100,000 each year for three years from the annual State budget to distribute as grants for the Registered Apprenticeship for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals (Pilot). This pilot awards Registered Apprenticeship Sponsors and employers flexible funding to offset the cost of registering new apprentices by granting a maximum of $1,000 per new eligible Registered Apprentice, until program funds are exhausted. Eligible Registered Apprenticeship Sponsors and employers may receive up to $25,000 per year.

The goals of this program are:

  1. To develop a well-trained, productive construction workforce which meets the needs of the State’s economy;
  2. To encourage employers to hire formerly incarcerated individuals in the construction industry; and,
  3. To help employers offset additional costs, if any, associated with hiring Registered Apprentices.

ELIGIBILITY AND OUTREACH
To be eligible for the Registered Apprenticeship for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals (Pilot), a Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor or employer must be engaged in the building and construction trade and have hired formerly incarcerated Registered Apprentices who:

  1. A. Have been employed by the Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor or employer for at least seven months;
  2. Are enrolled in the first year of a Registered Apprenticeship program registered with DWDAL; and,
  3. Live in Baltimore City or Dorchester County. Registered Apprenticeship Sponsors and employers can only apply for and receive one grant award per Registered Apprentice.

APPLYING FOR THE REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP FOR FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS GRANT PILOT
Application Submission: To apply for funding through the Registered Apprenticeship for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals (Pilot), a Registered Apprenticeship sponsor or business must first complete the application provided in Attachment A – Sample Application and submit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services I-9 “Employment Eligibility Verification” form.

Eligible businesses should submit completed applications electronically to: dlmatpapprenticeshipandtraining-labor@maryland.gov for consideration by the reviewer. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis.

Application Review: The DWDAL Director of Apprenticeship and Training (or designee) is the application reviewer for the pilot. The reviewer for the pilot must review submitted applications in a timely manner. The reviewer must ensure that approved applications meet eligibility requirements.

For additional information, please refer to the Policy for this funding opportunity.

Also, the Statutory language associated with this program can be found at the MD Ann. Code, Labor and Employment Article §11-604Apprenticeship Career Training Pilot Program for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals.”

Regulatory Language associated with the program can be found in the Code of Maryland Regulations.