Guest feature: Maureen O'Connor is the director of communications for the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation. Follow DLLR on Facebook and Twitter.

The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded Maryland with a $2 million grant to invest in the state's apprenticeship program.

"Apprenticeships allow Marylanders to work while they learn in some of the State's leading industries. Investing in the future of the State's workforce means investing in registered apprenticeships," said Maryland Labor Secretary Kelly M. Schulz. "Under the leadership of Governor Hogan, Maryland is working toward a sizable increase in apprenticeships, from 7,186 in 2012 to 9,258 today, with a goal of 9,500 by the end of 2016."

The state is aligning apprenticeships with the Maryland's workforce system to ensure that traditional apprenticeship opportunities expand with labor demand. The new funds will be used to provide staffing and outreach to businesses interested in creating apprenticeship opportunities.

For more information about apprenticeship opportunities in Maryland, please visit the Department's website.

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