ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today provided an update on the Workforce Development and Trades Center at Howard Community College (HCC). In his proposed Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Capital Budget, Ball requests $5 million in County funding and $3.6 million in HCC funding for this transformative project. This brings the total County investment to $11 million to ensure the project’s completion for an enrollment start in Fall 2026. This funding is vital as Maryland grapples with a projected 50,000 job loss due to federal impacts. In addition, Ball is including $1 million for systemic renovations for the college as a strong commitment to overall student success. Photos of the announcement can be viewed here.
Our residents are seeking meaningful connections, opportunities to contribute, and a chance to build critical skills as they begin their career journeys. We have invested both in people, programs, and in places that will allow anyone with a dream with the resources to fulfill that dream. This investment into the new Workforce and Trades Center at HCC will further our commitment to building a robust pipeline of skilled workers for our workforce, which will significantly contribute to our thriving economy.
The Workforce Development and Trades Center will equip workers to immediately enter the workforce with the skills necessary to meet business needs. The funding would leverage $11.9 million in matching State aid toward the construction of the college’s new Workforce Development and Trades Center, which broke ground Fall 2024. This world-class center will feature state-of-the-art facilities to train students in automative technology, manufacturing, green technology, skilled trades and cybersecurity.
"Howard Community College is grateful to County Executive Ball and the Howard County Government for their continued investment in the Cathy and Danny Bell Workforce Development and Trades Center,” said Dr. Daria J. Willis, president of Howard Community College. “A well-trained workforce is the backbone of a thriving community. With this generous financial support, the county is investing in the education of our community, and the growth and stability of the Howard County economy.”
In 2023, Howard County launched the Apprenticeship Opportunity Program through the Office of Workforce Development (OWD). This program supports local businesses creating new apprenticeships. To date, more than a dozen businesses have brought on 28 new apprentices since the program’s start. Howard County is an exemplar in its support of apprenticeships with more than 1,500 apprentices trained by businesses in the County.
“This center will be more than bricks and mortar—it’s a promise to our young people, our employers, and our community that we are investing in pathways to success,” said Stephanie Adibe, Administrator, Howard County Office of Workforce Development. “From apprenticeships and hands-on training to careers in skilled trades, cybersecurity, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing—this facility represents access, opportunity, and impact.”
The Summer Youth Employment Program is another program that gives young people experience to gain knowledge and skills to enter the workforce as adults. It has grown from 13 participants in the Summer of 2018 to 225 in the Summer of 2024. In addition to full wage, youth apprentices attend seminars and receive career coaching. Currently, the Office of Workforce Development is recruiting businesses to participate in hosting a Summer Youth.
To support residents impacted by the DOGE orders, Howard County has hosted two successful federal workers career fairs at HCC, attended by nearly 2,000 people combined, since the flurry of executive orders aimed at slashing the federal workforce. Additionally, the County has hosted two Federal Workers Forums, one in February and one in March. The most recent one was attended by United States Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth at Howard Community College, drawing thousands of participants in person and online.
Here’s what others are saying:
“The Board of Trustees is pleased to partner with Dr. Willis, her administration, and our community partners to expand opportunities through our training programs and career cultivation resources,” said Vivian Moore Lawyer, interim chair of the Howard Community College Board of Trustees. “We're grateful for the coalition we have with county, state, and federal leaders to expand our college mission and our imprint as a global institution powering our region's future”
“This center will equip people young and old not just with knowledge but with real world skills; skills that lead to opportunity, skills that create independence, skills that build wealth not just for individuals but for entire families and neighborhoods,” stated Cathy Bell, major donor to the Cathy and Danny Bell Workforce Development & Trades Center. “I believe when we invest in people’s ability to contribute meaningfully to the world around them, everybody wins.”
“The HVAC program has helped me a lot because I like to work with my hands and I wasn't really into school. Since I was young, I always worked with my Dad. My Mom went through a similar program to this,” said Yasir Portillo, HVAC Apprentice, HCPSS Senior. "I think that a trade center like this will help everyone, including me and people that also want to work with their hands. I think this will be great for the community."
“This center represents more than just a building. It represents hope and opportunity for countless individuals who want to seek new skills and secure meaningful employment. By providing access to high quality training and resources, we are empowering our residents to achieve their fullest potential, and contribute to the economic vitality of this County and the region,” said Luke Chow, CEO, Prime Manufacturing. "The support of the County has been instrumental in turning this vision into reality. The commitment into fostering a skilled workforce will have a lasting impact on our community, creating rippling effects of positive change in generations to come."
"Working in the field, a lot of times Cybersecurity is focused on Information Technology. Increasingly, where the industry is moving and where Cybersecurity is moving is with operational technology. That's the kind of technology that appears with the skilled trades,” said Tina Williams-Koroma, CEO, TCecure. “We've been working on putting together curriculum related to introducing and incorporating cybersecurity into the training of those going into these skilled trades. So, as we have HVAC professionals or automotive professionals looking and going into their discipline, they are automatically going to be set a part by having that understanding of cybersecurity incorporated."