President Biden Visits Prince George’s County Community College, MD Gov. Speaks Out

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Last week, Gov. Wes Moore announced that Maryland will direct $17.4 million toward adult education providers in support of key investments to grow Maryland’s economy. The announcement came as part of the program during President Joseph R. Biden’s Thursday visit to Prince George’s County Community College in support of the Biden administration’s vision for growing the country’s economy.

“Together, we will grow an economy that works for everyone, from the bottom up and the middle out,” Moore said. “President Biden has been very clear about his vision to empower and educate workers to grow the middle class. It’s a vision I stand by because it’s good for Maryland, good for our people and good for our economy. Together, we are going to work in partnership to follow the president’s lead, build out our workforce, grow the economy and win this decade.”

Prince George’s Community College student trustee Sade N. Davis introduced Biden. The president spoke about fair taxation for the wealthy and large corporations; protecting and strengthening Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid; and lowering costs for hardworking families.

"As many of you know, my wife is a professor at a community college. As a matter of fact, she’s teaching today. She has an expression ‘Any country that out-educates us will out-compete us.’ The work you’re doing here in preparing students to compete in the economy of the future is real, it matters,” Biden said.

“Our faculty and staff work diligently at being a strong support system and economic bridge for this community. We believe in the power of collective effort and boldly embrace challenges on the road to extraordinary achievement. President Biden’s visit to the PGCC campus confirms that the College is a vital part of Maryland’s thriving economy,” PGCC President Falecia D. Williams said.

Maryland will direct $9.5 million in support from the U.S. Department of Education and $7.9 million from the Maryland Department of Labor to 23 adult education providers who will expand access to basic and secondary education for adults, English language acquisition, civics education, integrated education and training, and family literacy. All 16 Maryland community colleges, two local kindergarten through 12th grade school systems, three community-based organizations, one public library system and the state correctional education system will receive the funding.

“Local adult education makes a difference in the lives of families and communities across our state,” said Maryland Department of Labor Secretary Portia Wu. “We have over 20,000 adult learners in Maryland and this funding will support their educational goals and development of new skills—which will contribute to our state’s workforce and bridge economic gaps in our local communities.”