Marcus Dieterle at The Baltimore Fishbowl reports the State of Maryland has launched a $5 million program to incentivize small businesses and other employers to hire and train Registered Apprentices.
Through the Maryland Apprenticeship Incentive Program, Apprenticeship sponsors and employers can receive up to $3,000 per adult registered apprentice or $7,500 per high school age Registered Apprentice. Funding for the program comes from the registered apprenticeship Investment for a Stronger Economy (RAISE) Act of 2025, which Moore signed into law last year. The Act provides $5 million in incentives for Fiscal Year 2026.
The incentive is meant to offset the costs employers would incur from hiring and training Apprentices – including: Instructional expenses like tuition, fees, books and materials; Mentorship and on-the-job learning expenses; Marketing materials and other recruitment expenses; Costs related to disability accommodations; and supportive services like transportation assistance and essential equipment.
The goal is to help grow Maryland’s workforce. A record number of 14,000 Marylanders participated in Apprenticeship Programs in 2025. Governor Wes Moore said: “This program is a direct investment in a proven model: Apprenticeships that prepare and make Maryland’s economy more competitive. By removing financial barriers for employers, we are expanding pathways to work, wages and wealth for Marylanders.”
