September is National Workforce Development month. In addition to recognizing and celebrating our dedicated team here in Frederick, we are excited to share updates on some of the invaluable tools Frederick County Workforce Services (FCWS) has been working on for our local business community.
Here, we catch up with Patty McDonald, Program Manager for Business & Career Services at FCWS, for the latest news on the organization’s important initiatives.
Each summer, FCWS coordinates the Summer Jobs program — in which youth facing barriers to employment are connected to local employers for work opportunities. Local businesses serve as the worksites for participating youth, while FCWS covers their pay. How did this year’s Summer Job’s Program go?
We recently wrapped up our annual Summer Jobs Program for Frederick County Youth between the ages of 14 and 21. This year almost 100 youth were able to gain work experience with 35 different business in Frederick County. These businesses hosted youth for 5 weeks over the summer, offering them mentorship, guidance, and supported exposure to the working world. Youth worked in a variety of settings including summer camps, public libraries, farms, automotive shops, government offices and more.
Frederick’s Biotech Boot Camp is a free, 4-week training program designed to teach participants the basic skills needed for entry-level positions within the biotechnology/biomanufacturing industry. Focused on delivering real career opportunities & meeting workforce needs, participants are connected with participating local companies upon graduation. What recent highlights can you share from the award-winning Biotech Bootcamp program?
16 people recently graduated from the 5th Biotech Bootcamp program. Each participant had an opportunity to interview with at least 3 different local biotech companies. At this point 11 of the 16 are working with local companies!
Maryland businesses having been hearing about “The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future” for a few years. Is there anything in particular local businesses should know about this initiative or a way for them to get involved?
The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly in 2021 to transform public education in Maryland. One aspect of the Blueprint provides access to individualized career guidance to all middle and high school students in a partnership between Frederick County Workforce Services, Frederick Community College, and Frederick County Public Schools. There are Career Coaches embedded in all FCPS Middle and High Schools to offer students opportunities for career awareness, exploration, and career planning.
We are heavily reliant on business partnerships to make this happen. If you are interested in learning more about how you can engage with this effort you can contact Larry Kaiser our Career Coach Coordinator at lkaiser@frederickcountymd.gov
‘Frederick Business Works’ offers businesses an opportunity to develop their current employees with industry-recognized skills by providing a reimbursement for a portion of the cost of training. Are there any new updates related to this program?
We continue to support training for specific occupational credentials that businesses may seek for their employees to attain. In addition, recently, we have seen more requests for business who are seeking English Language training for workers who need to build their English reading, writing, and speaking skills. As the County continues to see growth in populations that might use English as a secondary language, improved English skills can open up doors for promotion, and help businesses to attract and retain talent.
We encourage business that are interested in investing in the skill development of their current workforce to visit our website for more information.
Sounds like you all have been busy! What’s next? What should local businesses keep an eye out for in the future from Frederick County Workforce Services?
There are a number of new initiatives on their way, including:
Our Mobile Career Center is expected to be delivered this winter. The Mobile Career Center will be equipped with computer stations for job searching and we’ll be able to bring our programming on the road. We’ll be out and about starting in the Spring.
FCWS has also received a new grant that will help us deliver additional programming for Resilient Frederick County (RFC) which is focused on assisting those who have been impacted by substance use disorders. There is a Recovery is Good Business session planned for October 17th for businesses to learn the benefits and steps to becoming a recovery friendly workplace.
FCWS is excited to announce the launch of its new Labor Market Dashboard, a cutting-edge tool designed to provide real-time data and insights on the local job market. This user-friendly platform offers workforce professionals, job seekers, employers, and policymakers instant access to critical labor market information, empowering them to make informed decisions.
And finally, another exciting opportunity currently available is the Experience Frederick Internship – which provides reimbursement of wages paid to interns for businesses who hire interns. Learn more and apply -https://www.frederickworks.com/find-talent
Whether you employ five people or five hundred, Frederick County Workforce Services offers tailored solutions for your specific needs to help your company stay productive, competitive, and grow.
Contact the team today at fcws@frederickworks.com or explore more online here.
