ANNAPOLIS — Governor Larry Hogan recently announced the investment of $3.2 million into a new Employer Incentive Plan, which will encourage businesses to register new apprentices and increase participation in the state’s Registered Apprenticeship program.

Registered apprenticeships provide job seekers with an opportunity to earn a salary and learn through a combination of on-the-job training and classroom instruction, while employers can develop a highly skilled workforce and grow their talent pipeline.

“By investing in this new Employer Incentive Plan, we are supporting the growth and future of Maryland’s highly successful Registered Apprenticeship programs, sponsors, employers and apprentices,” Gov. Hogan said Oct. 6. “Maryland continues to be a national leader in workforce development, job training and apprenticeships, and it is critical that we continue to invest in our skilled workforce. Apprenticeships have proven to be a tremendously successful workforce development strategy, and I encourage businesses from all industries to utilize this program.”

Through the EIP — a rolling reimbursement program — businesses with more than 50 employees are eligible for reimbursement of 50% of the wage rate of an apprentice, up to $3,120 for a maximum of 30 hours per week.

Small businesses with 49 or fewer employees are eligible for reimbursement of 75% of the apprentice’s wage rate, up to $4,680 for a maximum of 30 hours per week.

Maryland has more than 11,000 registered apprentices currently working, earning and learning in the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Program, the highest participation rate in state history. In April, the governor announced the approval of 27 new Registered Apprenticeship programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Private, public and nonprofit employers can apply for first-come, first-served EIP funds if they meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the policy. Employers should submit their initial application for the EIP immediately upon registration of a new apprentice.

Once a newly registered apprentice has been verified by the Maryland Department of Labor, an initial award letter will be sent. Businesses that meet program requirements will be able to seek reimbursement when an apprentice has completed six months of the apprenticeship.

The EIP is one of several initiatives supported through a $6 million State Apprenticeship Expansion Grant awarded to Labor’s Apprenticeship and Training Program in 2020 by the U.S. Department of Labor.

For more information about apprenticeship opportunities in Maryland, visit MDapprenticeship.com.