Grant Opportunity: MLSC Partners with Baltimore City for Workforce Legal Services Program

The Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Employment Development has been awarded American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to support several workforce development programs that will target populations who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. These initiatives will aid Baltimoreans who are currently unemployed or underemployed, provide workforce development opportunities for youth, and provide sector-based job training in high-growth industries.

MOED will enter into a subgrant agreement with Maryland Legal Services Corporation, a nonprofit specializing in grants to nonprofit organizations that provide civil legal services to low-income residents. MLSC will conduct a competitive RFP process to select legal service providers supported by ARPA funds and will coordinate those services during the grant period.

As part of the proposed work supported by ARPA Funds, participants who are receiving job training or participating in transitional work will receive workforce support services, including legal services. Offering these support services is a best practice in workforce development systems and helps set participants up for long-term success. Services will be focused on legal issues that can affect employment opportunities and financial stability, including criminal record expungement, driver’s license suspensions, bankruptcy, credit maintenance, tax controversies, and estate planning.

Interested nonprofits should review the background document. The grant application for this project is available in MLSC’s online grants portal, SmartSimple.

Applications for this Grant Opportunity must be received by MLSC by March 15, 2022.

Any potential applicants that are not current MLSC Workforce grantees should contact MLSC before beginning an application to discuss the compliance requirements for this grant.