IMPLEMENTATION GRANT

1. IMPLEMENTATION GRANT PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE JANUARY 31, 2014

2. Ground Rules for the Live Webinar: 1) All participants are in listen-in mode. 2) To ask a question, please type it into the Question box to the right of your screen. 3) We will answer questions at the end of the presentation. 4) You can test the Question box function now by introducing yourself. 5) This a two-hour webinar. 6) We will have a 35-40 minute presentation and leave the remaining time to address the questions that you submit in the Question Box.

3. Listening Tips: • If you cannot hear us, and you logged in via phone, click on the phone icon. • If you logged in via (computer) audio, click on the "mic" icon, and make sure you turn up the volume on your end. • In general, please limit background noise.

4. Goals • What is EARN Maryland? • Review of Competitive Process and Timeline • Review of Implementation Grant Solicitation • Q&A

5. What is EARN Maryland? • New and innovative $4.5 million State grant program • A paradigm shift - Industry collaboration with critical and diverse partners to meet changing workforce needs and skills shortages • A new way of creating sustainable employment and careers for working families in Maryland • Targets incumbent workers as well as low and no-skilled workers to eliminate barriers and create responsive career pathways

6. How is EARN Maryland different? • Industry drives the process – without industry at the table in a robust and meaningful way, EARN funds will not be awarded • Collaboration and partnerships are key

7. What does meaningful industry engagement look like? • Industry members actively participate in defining COMMON workforce and skills needs and challenges • Identify different mechanisms to solicit industry input • Meetings or workshops • Surveys • Focus groups • Other tools common in your industry • Every industry is different

8. Two-Phase Competitive Process • PLANNING GRANT – Awards made December 2013. Solicitation closed. • IMPLEMENTATION GRANT • Both are competitive, open solicitation processes

9. Key Dates • March 31, 2014 Deadline: Submission of SIP Workforce Training Plans • April 2014 Review of SIP Workforce Training Plan Submissions • June 2014 Award of Implementation Grants for Approved SIP Workforce Training Plans • June 15, 2014- Implementation Grant Funding June 30, 2016 Period

10. Funding for Implementation Grant Awardees • Award amount: up to $150,000 per grant preferred. • Grant requests above cap will be considered on a case-by-case basis. • Number of grants awarded determined by competitive process and available funding. • Final budgets and disbursement schedule to be negotiated after awards.

11. Lead Applicant Can Be: • Employers • Nonprofits • Two and four-year institutions of higher education • Local Workforce Boards • Industry Associations • Labor Unions • Local Governments • Local and regional economic development entities Lead Applicant must be the Fiscal Agent.

12. Partner Organizations – Critical to Success of SIP • Any of Lead Applicant orgs. plus: • philanthropic organizations • community-based organizations • K-12 programs • other training providers and relevant partners

13. Pause for Questions • You may always submit questions after the webinar via email to earn.jobs@maryland.gov

14. Main Elements of the IG Application • Outlining SIP Project Management • Defining/Refining Target Industry and Region • Defining/Refining Critical Skills Needs in Target Industry and Region • Designing Responsive SIP Workforce Training Plan

15. Project Management Model • Three primary roles to consider: • Grant management • Training plan implementation and outcome reporting -The person(s) managing these two responsibilities must be Lead Applicant staff or contractor. • Ongoing convening/coordination of SIP Members • Each SIP decides how to manage these functions and what staff are accountable.

16. Preference Given to WTP with Leveraged Resources • Industry Contributions – In-Kind and/or Direct Financial • Other SIP Partners’ Contributions: In-Kind and/or Direct Financial • Braided Funding from other public and philanthropic funding streams

17. All SIP Partners Letters of Commitment • Be specific outlining commitments made in the Proposal. • Include direct financial and/or in-kind contributions • Include other commitments(e.g., creating 5 OJT positions for 6 weeks each for training participants)

18. IG Solicitation – Understanding Format • Appendices Provide the Specifics of Training • Appendix D – Overview of All Training Modules • Appendix E – Training Module for Each Individual Training Proposed • Appendix F – WTP Budget Summary • Proposal Narrative – SIP provides the rationalefor trainings and budget proposed

19. Characteristics of Strong SIP WTP • Proposed WTP should address specifics of Industry’s critical occupation and skills needs • Focus on short-term training opportunities • Recruitment strategy for training participants is key • Link training strategy to training cohort: • Incumbent workers - career advancement • Low- and no-skilled workers – job readiness • Incumbent/entry level workers – industry-identified essential workplace skills

20. What EARN Maryland IS NOT • Typical way of doing business • Customized training for an individual employer • Funding stream to support training and education not grounded in data and experience-driven industry workforce needs

21. What EARN Maryland IS • Driven by industry experience and data • Collaborative • Dynamic and nimble; responsive to changing industry needs • Industry-wide, long-term solutions to the development of a skilled and responsive workforce

22. EARN MD CONNECT • EARN MD CONNECT will help you to: • Communicate with your partners, • Find and be found by potential additional partners, • Share information and best practices with other emerging partnerships, and • Serve as a resource for trainee/employee recruitment.  • If you have not yet done so, please register atwww.dllr.state.md.us/earn/earnconnect.shtml and encourage your partners to do the same! 

23. Questions • Please email your questions, post-webinar, to earn.jobs@maryland.gov • Deadline for questions is February 21, 2014 • Response provided to all in a timely fashion • Please check the FAQs at www.earn.maryland.gov before emailing your question. We will regularly post updates to the FAQs.