MD · State Grant

Maryland State Training Grants for Employers

Maryland has two state training grants employers can use. The Partnership for Workforce Quality at the Department of Commerce reimburses up to 50% of training costs for manufacturing and technology employers. EARN Maryland at MD Labor funds industry partnerships that include at least five employers; the money goes to the partnership's lead applicant, which can be an employer. The last EARN solicitation closed September 26, 2025, and MD Labor has posted Spring 2026 Letter of Intent recipients. Maryland Business Works is described as not accepting applications.

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State pre-filled: MD
Program type pre-filled: state_training_grant

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HOW IT WORKS

Four steps, in this order.

1
Choose the route: PWQ for your own staff, EARN for an industry partnership
2
For PWQ, call your Commerce regional representative before training
3
For EARN, join or lead a partnership and watch the MD Labor solicitation page
4
Keep invoices and records; both pay against documented costs

3 VERIFIED PROGRAMS

Where the Maryland money comes from.

Run by Maryland Department of Commerce (PWQ) and Maryland Department of Labor (EARN Maryland). Every figure is from an official page, linked on each card.

Partnership for Workforce Quality (PWQ)

Up to 50% reimbursed, $200,000 yearly cap

OPEN, THROUGH YOUR COMMERCE REPRESENTATIVE

WHAT YOU GET

Up to 50% of qualified direct training costs for current full-time Maryland employees.

HOW MUCH

Minimum award $10,000 (project cost at least $20,000). Maximum $200,000 per employer per year.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

The employer, as a reimbursement.

WHO QUALIFIES

At least ten full-time employees
Not in arrears on state taxes or in default with Commerce
Priority to manufacturing and technology; 60% of funds reserved for employers with 150 or fewer employees

Before you start: Yes. Contact the Commerce regional representative first.

EARN Maryland (Employment Advancement Right Now)

$150,000 to $250,000 per partnership

CLOSED, NEXT ROUND NOT PUBLISHED

WHAT YOU GET

Training for your current and future workers designed by an industry partnership. Employers in a partnership help shape the training and may receive funds as subrecipients.

HOW MUCH

Summer 2025 round: Tier I requests up to $150,000 and Tier II up to $250,000 over the grant period, for grants running January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027. No percentage match is required, but contributions are preferred.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

The lead applicant of a Strategic Industry Partnership, who is the fiscal agent. An employer can be the lead applicant, otherwise employers join as partners.

WHO QUALIFIES

A partnership must include at least five employers from the target industry and two other entities
The lead applicant may be an employer, nonprofit, apprenticeship sponsor, college, local board, industry association, union or local government

Before you start: Yes. This is a competitive solicitation. There is no walk-in application.

Maryland Business Works (MD Labor)

50% reimbursement, $40,000 employer cap

CLOSED PER MD LABOR PAGE, CONFIRM

WHAT YOU GET

50% of approved training cost for current full-time employees.

HOW MUCH

Policy caps: $4,500 per trainee, $40,000 per employer per program year (2016 policy).

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

The employer, by reimbursement.

WHO QUALIFIES

Businesses with 250 employees or fewer providing in-demand products or services
Dollar-for-dollar match

Before you start: Yes.

LOCAL BOARDS

Same program, different rules by board.

Frederick County

Frederick BusinessWorks: reimbursement up to 50% of approved training costs for private employers located in Frederick.

SOURCE: BUSINESSINFREDERICK.COM

Employ Prince George's

Talent Development Fund: matching grants covering a share of training costs and, in some cases, equipment and partial wage reimbursement.

SOURCE: EMPLOYPG.ORG

EARN Summer 2025 awardees

Awards for grants starting January 2026 went to partnerships across skilled trades, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, clean energy, childcare and cyber/IT.

SOURCE: LABOR.MARYLAND.GOV

AVOID THESE

What gets Maryland State Grant claims denied.

Applying to EARN without five employers in the partnership.
SOURCE: LABOR.MARYLAND.GOV
Missing the EARN closing date. Late proposals are not accepted.
SOURCE: LABOR.MARYLAND.GOV
Applying to PWQ with fewer than ten full-time employees.
SOURCE: COMMERCE.MARYLAND.GOV
Asking for more than the PWQ annual limit of $200,000 per employer.
SOURCE: COMMERCE.MARYLAND.GOV

STRAIGHT ANSWERS

Maryland State Grant questions.

Does EARN pay my company directly?

Only if your company is the lead applicant or a subrecipient of a partnership grant. Otherwise the benefit is training for your workers delivered by the partnership.

SOURCE: LABOR.MARYLAND.GOV

Who can lead an EARN partnership?

An employer, nonprofit, Registered Apprenticeship sponsor, college, local workforce board, industry association, union, or local government, among others.

SOURCE: LABOR.MARYLAND.GOV

When is the next EARN round?

The page shows no new solicitation as of September 2026. Check the MD Labor current solicitations page.

SOURCE: LABOR.MARYLAND.GOV

Is there a state apprenticeship grant too?

Yes. The Maryland Apprenticeship Incentive Program pays up to $3,000 per adult or $7,500 per high school level apprentice. See the apprenticeship page.

SOURCE: LABOR.MARYLAND.GOV

How we checked. Every fact on this page comes from a state agency, a local workforce board or federal regulation, read on September 30, 2026. Where a board publishes nothing, we say so instead of guessing. Programs and funding change often; confirm with the program before you commit. Written by Jason Meehl, founder of Reimbursa. Found an error? Email hello@reimbursa.com.

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