INTRODUCTION

Lower Shore Workforce Alliance

Thank you

Coretta Scott King believed that a community's greatness is measured by the compassionate actions of its members. We want to express our gratitude to the community for supporting our efforts to continue publishing the Job Journal. As the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance (LSWA), we distribute this valuable resource to customers, agencies, and businesses in the Tri-County area. We take pride in being a trusted source that helps improve the lives of families.

As the fiscal year comes to an end, we want to share some of the programs we have worked on through the Lower Shore 4E Partnership (Engage, Employ, Educate, and Equip). One of these programs was the Participate Training, which gave four residents of the

Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland the opportunity to complete a Community Health Worker certification through online training scholarships offered by the Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center. All four participants successfully completed the program and earned a credential. We also hosted two virtual job fairs with three primary healthcare providers participating and attendees registering. In collaboration with our industry partners, we are now organizing in-person and virtual job fairs to reach individuals with transportation limitations. We have seen an increase in attendance over time.

Additionally, we established a reemployment incentive to business grant program with Seaside Plumbing, LLC, to hire four to five plumbing apprentices who will attend a 20-week training session. These reemployment-funded apprentices will earn between $15.00 and $17.00 per hour and work full-time. The re-employment project will pay half the worker's wages during the apprenticeship.

Plus, we partnered with ABC Chesapeake Shores to provide an introductory construction course that combined classroom and hands-on training for four weeks. Ten students completed the course and received four industry-recognized certificates, and some were even offered employment upon graduation.

Also, we sponsored an OSHA Forklift Certificate class. Thirty participants acquired their OSHA Forklift Certification and can secure a warehouse and logistics job after attending this class. Due to high demand from our customers, we added another forklift class to our offerings.

We also collaborated with the Maryland Broadband Cooperative to launch an onthe-job fiber optic technician program that will hire four entry-level people and train them to become certified fiber optic cable splicers and network technicians.

We funded a Maryland insurance license preparatory class for ten qualified students. After completing the course, graduates interviewed for open positions with area insurance companies. The graduates are eligible to sit for the Maryland State Property and Casualty Insurance exam.

We collaborated with Vehicles for Change and Pohanka Automotive Group to establish an automotive mechanic training program. Individuals with no experience enter Vehicles for Change basic training program. Once completed, graduates will transfer to Pohanka’s advanced classroom and on-thejob training program. LSWA supports this effort by reimbursing a portion of the participant’s salary for six months. This program has much success, and Vehicles for Changes has a waiting list.

LSWA's Level Up Program, is a Youth Service Program that offers education, training, and support services to individuals aged 16-24 who are not in school and facing economic or educational challenges. We assist young people with over 14 services, and work with community resources and partners to ensure our program's success. Our goal was to reach 42 new youth participants, and we achieved 90% of our target.

Our Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program, which has existed successfully for several years, helps connect job seekers and businesses through education, workforce training, and economic development. During the fiscal year, 47 participants completed the program, including 26 in CDL A, 4 in CDL B, 1 in CDL B to CDL A, 11 in CNA, 1 in Dental Assistant, 2 in Metal Fab, 1 in Medical Assistant, and 1 in HVAC.

Also, we have completed the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance Four-Year Comprehensive Plan for the years 2020-2024. If you wish to review the plan in its entirety, please click on the link provided below. Moreover, if you have any inquiries, concerns, or suggestions, you can reach us via email at AJCoperator@gmail.com. Kindly note that the gray areas are current updates. https://lswa.org/policies/

LSWA has had a highly productive year and we are thrilled to share our growth with you. From being featured on Delmarva Life to producing videos, and creating a LinkedIn and Instagram page, we are proud to have almost 1k followers on Facebook. However, our greatest achievement is the success of our exceptional programs and we extend our congratulations to all graduates. We appreciate the support from everyone who has contributed to our success and are excited to continue growing to unimaginable heights. Thank you for being a part of our thriving agency and caring community.

Sincerely,

Publis