Frederick Community College (FCC) has been selected to receive $150,000 in funding through the Employment Advancement Right Now (EARN) Maryland grant program, administered by the Maryland Department of Labor. This highly competitive award will support workforce training for Frederick County residents – particularly those from the ENOUGH community – preparing them for in-demand, mid-level careers in manufacturing and logistics.  
 
EARN Maryland is a state-funded, industry-led workforce development grant program that brings employers, training providers, and community partners together to create industry training that leads to meaningful employment and career advancement. The program helps businesses build a skilled workforce while strengthening Maryland’s economy.  
 
Through a coordinated partnership between FCC, Frederick County Workforce Services (FCWS), and the Frederick County Local Management Board (LMB), FCC’s grant-funded project will recruit, screen, train, and support up to 60 participants. The initiative is designed to deliver short-term, credentialed training that is aligned with regional workforce needs while providing wraparound services to support participant success. 
 
Target occupations for the project include mechanical engineering technologists, first-line supervisors of tractor-trailer drivers, and biological technicians. FCC will oversee the project and deliver short-term, credentialed training aligned with these occupations, as well as General Educational Development (GED) and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) instruction as needed. 
 
The project integrates recruitment, case management, and job readiness support. LMB will lead outreach and wraparound services within high-poverty neighborhoods. FCWS will expand employer engagement and provide job search assistance and paid work experience.  
 
“Collaboration is key when addressing workforce challenges,” said FCWS Director Michelle Day. “We are excited about this opportunity and look forward to continued partnership in supporting career pathways that create economic mobility and meet local employer needs.”  
 
This grant highlights FCC’s ongoing commitment to workforce development, particularly in meeting the needs of the transportation and logistics industry, identified as a key Frederick County industry and in direct alignment with the College’s Workforce Growth Strategy for 2026-2027.  
 
“FCC has committed to expanding capacity, curriculum, and investment in equipment in the transportation and logistics sector while strengthening employer connections to ensure direct pathways to local jobs,” said Dr. Molly Carlson, Associate Vice President and Dean of Continuing Education & Workforce Development. “This grant will bring resources to the College to support these initiatives.”  
 
Learn more about EARN Maryland.  
Learn more about FCC’s Workforce Growth Strategy in FCC Connects (page 4).