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Committee hears $50,000 maritime-apprenticeship grant signed; smaller workforce investment to proceed instead of larger disparity study
Summary
City staff confirmed a signed $50,000 grant agreement with the Marine Trades Association and Anne Arundel workforce partners; the committee also agreed to allocate $30,000 toward an Inclusive Ventures workforce program instead of a $450,000 disparity study that the city could not fund.
City economic-development staff told the committee that a $50,000 grant agreement with the Marine Trades Association of Maryland and Anne Arundel workforce partners has been signed and is ready for disbursement to support maritime-industry workforce training and apprenticeship opportunities.
"Good news. We've now signed the grant agreement," Shanda Meyer, who identified herself on the record as participating in the effort, said. "So now we just need to get them the check, dollars 50,000. We're so happy about this, and we hope that this is a program we can continue."
Meyer said the Marine Trades Association is working with the Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation on next steps and that the partners expect strong interest because the maritime sector needs trained technicians and apprentices. Committee members framed the $50,000 as a targeted investment that could attract wider attention for an industry apprenticeship program.
On a separate economic-development matter, staff reported back on the estimated cost of a proposed disparity study. The estimated price tag — roughly $450,000 — exceeded what the committee was prepared to spend. Instead, committee members agreed to direct the available $30,000 toward the Anne Arundel Inclusive Ventures program, which staff and committee members described as an applied business-development and workforce training initiative that will include Annapolis-area businesses as participants and beneficiaries.
Committee members said the Inclusive Ventures program can provide near-term benefits while the city considers longer-term options for a disparity study. "We got that update back from Mike. The estimate was $450,000," a committee member said. "We do have $450,000, but it would not be feasible to spend $450,000 on this study..." The committee directed staff to follow up with the Inclusive Ventures partners and to circulate program details to committee members.
Economic development staff also told the committee that a number of food-service businesses are in the permitting pipeline and several ribbon cuttings have been discussed, including a new deli replacing a former tenant on West Street.
