DLLR Grants $100,000 to Anne Arundel Workforce Nonprofits

Grants in Response to Request by Senator Astle after County Cuts Funding

BALTIMORE- Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation Secretary Thomas E. Perez will announce that the DLLR Division of Workforce Development is granting $100,000 to two workforce development nonprofits. The Secretary will be joined by Senator John Astle and the nonprofits' executive directors at a press conference on Wednesday, July 11th at 10 a.m. at the Centro de Ayuda (The Center of Help), 1906 Forest Dr., Ste. 2B, Annapolis, Maryland.

The nonprofits receiving the funding from DLLR are the Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) which focuses on promoting workforce development within the Anne Arundel African American community and Centro de Ayuda, which focuses on promoting workforce development within the Anne Arundel Hispanic community.

"OIC and Centro de Ayuda are valuable partners in effectively reaching out to underserved communities in Anne Arundel County," stated Secretary Perez. "Non-profits are the on-the-ground support system for many of our neighbors, continued support and partnership with organizations such as OIC and Centro is essential to a comprehensive workforce development system in our state."

The decision to provide funding for the OIC and Centro de Ayuda came after the two nonprofits reached out to Senator Astle and requested his assistance in finding funding to support their missions. The two workforce nonprofits both faced fiscal burdens after Anne Arundel County eliminated their funding in the 2007 budget.

Updated July 28, 2009