Baltimore County One Of Twelve Jurisdictions Selected For Phase Two Of Job Equity Program

BALTIMORE COUNTY - Baltimore County is one of 12 jurisdictions nationwide to be selected for phase two of a program to promote economic mobility and strengthen local economies.

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced on Wednesday that the county will participate in the competitive second phase of Results For America's Good Jobs and Equity Project.

Moving on to the program's second phase means Baltimore County will become an example for the rest of the country in connecting struggling residents with the jobs most needed in their community.

"We're thrilled that Baltimore County's innovative workforce partnership has been selected for the second phase of this nationally competitive program, and we look forward to working with Results for America to equitably deliver 21st-century jobs to residents across our county," Olszewski said.

Baltimore County's Good Jobs & Equity Project: the recently-announced Public Health Pathways Program is a partnership between the county and local colleges to connect low-income residents with high-demand nursing positions.

"We believe the Public Health Pathways program is a model for modern, compassionate workforce development that will pull financially vulnerable residents out of poverty and provide a pathway to rewarding careers in health care with one of the country's most esteemed medical systems," Olszewski added.

Launching later this year, the Public Health Pathways Program pilot will initially provide 30 scholarships that will fully cover the cost of tuition and all educational fees for the CCBC Certified Nursing Assistant program.

Students in the program will also receive a $1,000 per month workforce stipend, which can supplement wages, address transportation or housing needs, pay for childcare, or other workforce-related barriers.

After completing CCBC's Certified Nursing Assistant program, graduates will be offered guaranteed employment with full benefits at UM SJMC.

"We're thrilled to support state and local leaders through RFA's Good Jobs & Equity Project as they leverage historic federal investments to provide good jobs that sustain and uplift all residents," said Rachel Korberg, Executive Director of the Families and Workers Fund. "These innovative projects will be models for communities across the country looking to break down the racial, gender, and other inequities that have left too many Americans behind."