Sunflower Bakery was awarded a $150,000 grant over two years from Maryland Employment Advancement Right Now, according to a July 30 announcement.
Sunflower Bakery, which began in 2008, aims to provide skilled job training and employment for adults with disabilities. In addition to baking, employees learn barista service and front-of-house operations. The bakery is the largest program in Maryland that trains disabled adults in pastry arts and hospitality and was named Best Bakery in the DMV by WTOP News in 2023.
EARN is a state-funded, competitive workforce development grant program that is industry-led, regional in focus and a proven strategy for helping businesses cultivate the skilled workforce they need to compete, according to the Maryland Department of Labor website.
The grant program aims to address the demands of businesses and the needs of workers.
The bakery will use this award to offer its services and partnerships to provide job opportunities to young adults with learning disabilities, an underemployed and at-risk population, the Facebook announcement read.
“Sunflower Bakery is immensely grateful to Senators [Chris] Van Hollen and [Ben] Cardin for championing our mission to enable pathways to employment for young adults with learning differences, and for supporting programs that promote economic mobility and inclusion for the disability community,” Jody Tick, executive director of Sunflower Bakery, wrote in a press release. “Funding through the appropriations process is not only a game-changer for expanding our programs; this funding also recognizes the importance of our work.”
