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Patuxent Partnership updates commissioners on Southern Maryland 2030 workforce initiative and asks for grant support
Summary
The Patuxent Partnership described the Southern Maryland 2030 program’s growth in STEM outreach, apprenticeships and paid internships (year‑1: ~440 students; recent event: 900 students; apprentices from 41 to 65) and requested a letter of support for a Rural Maryland Council grant to sustain year‑3 activities in Calvert County.
Bonnie Green, executive director of the Patuxent Partnership, briefed the county on the Southern Maryland 2030 workforce development initiative, which uses NAWCAD funding and regional partnerships to expand STEM career awareness, apprenticeships and paid internships.
Green said the initiative hosted a one‑day Spark Career Awareness Fair with about 440 students in its first year and more than 900 students at a recent event, including about 150 from Calvert County. The program’s apprenticeship numbers rose from 41 in year 1 to 65 in the most recent academic year; the program places apprentices with Navy, contractor and nonprofit partners and funds bus transportation and lunches for high‑school participants. Green noted a Calvert County commitment of $80,000 to a cyber lab at the College of Southern Maryland Prince Frederick campus and said the partnership provides paid eight‑week college internships for dozens of students.
Green asked the board for a letter of support for a Rural Maryland Council grant to sustain year‑3 programming and broaden outreach into Calvert and Charles counties. Commissioners indicated support and said they would consider the requested letter.
The initiative’s stated goals are to increase the STEM pipeline, create on‑ramps to local careers and help employers address shortages of skilled workers. Green said the partnership also coordinates school and college outreach, funds transportation for students, and leverages existing regional relationships to expand apprenticeship opportunities despite security limitations for some employers.
