(II) SHALL BE LOCATED IN A PRIORITY FUNDING AREA AS DEFINED
IN § 5-7B-02 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE;

[(ii)] (III) Shall request training assistance for job specific skills;

[(iii)] (IV) Shall request training assistance for Maryland-based
employees who are covered under the provisions of Title 8 of the Labor and
Employment Article; and

[(iv)] (V) Shall request training assistance to upgrade or retrain
existing employees.

(3) (I) Not less than 60 percent of all funds available shall be reserved
for Maryland employers with [100] 250 150 or fewer Maryland-based employees.

(II) NOT MORE THAN 20 PERCENT OF ALL FUNDS AVAILABLE MAY
BE PROVIDED TO MARYLAND EMPLOYERS WITH MORE THAN 500 MARYLAND-BASED
EMPLOYEES, PROVIDED THAT THE EMPLOYERS:

1. ARE PRIMARILY ENGAGED IN MANUFACTURING OR IN A
TECHNOLOGY-BASED BUSINESS;

2. AGREE TO INCREASE THEIR PURCHASES OF GOODS
PRODUCED IN MARYLAND AND SERVICES FROM MARYLAND-BASED SUPPLIERS; AND

3. AGREE TO PROVIDE THE WORKFORCE TRAINING TO A
CERTAIN NUMBER, AS DETERMINED BY THE PROGRAM, OF EMPLOYEES OF SMALLER
EMPLOYERS THAT SHALL SUPPLY GOODS OR SERVICES TO THE EMPLOYER
RECEIVING THE GRANT.

(4) No single Maryland employer shall receive more than [the greater of
$25,000 or 5 percent of total funds available to the Program] $200,000 within a year.

(5) Priority shall be given to Maryland employers who are:

(i) Manufacturers; or

(ii) Threatened by the pressures of increased foreign or domestic

competition.

(d) (1) The Secretary shall utilize local advisory groups such as private
industry councils, and joint apprenticeship committees, to identify employers in need
of assistance.

(2) Business assistance services provided by the Program shall:

(i) Determine whether the employer's specific needs are best met
by training, by other types of assistance, or by a combination of services;

(ii) Identify the availability of existing training programs which
could be adapted to meet the employer's needs;

(iii) Identify the resources the business can provide to support the
training, including facilities, materials, and equipment;