B&O Railroad Museum Awarded $500,000 Grant for Restore Baltimore Workforce Development Program
Baltimore, MD — April 27, 2026 — The B&O Railroad Museum today announced it has been awarded a $500,000 grant through the State of Maryland’s Road to Careers initiative, part of a $4 million investment announced by Maryland Governor Wes Moore to expand workforce training opportunities across the state’s transportation and construction industries.
The funding will support the Museum’s Restore Baltimore program, a workforce development initiative that is offered in partnership with the Community College of Baltimore County and the B&O Railroad Museum. The six-month, earn-and-learn program combines skilled trades instruction with hands-on application across the Museum’s 40-acre campus—offering training in rail operations, historic restoration and construction trades, and facilities management.
Participants receive wraparound services including transportation assistance, housing support, legal aid, career coaching and job placement —resources that organizers say are critical to long-term success. Many participants enter the program following periods of incarceration, recovery, or chronic underemployment.
“Restore Baltimore is a program that meets participants where they are and changes lives moving the graduates into family wage-earning jobs,” said Kris Hoellen, Executive Director of the B&O Railroad Museum. “We have essentially turned our campus into a school where students spend six months on our campus receiving expert instruction and critical wrap-around services. We are so appreciative of this funding as these programs are an investment in people who frequently received little to no investment in their education.”
Since its launch, Restore Baltimore has achieved an 84% graduation and job placement rate. The program intentionally limits its program size to typically 10–12 participants per year—to ensure deep, individualized support. Graduates have gone on to careers with employers such as Norfolk Southern, Canton Railroad, Whole Foods Market, LifeBridge Health, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company and specialized apprentice programs, among others.
During the program, participants earn certifications, including National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Core Basic Construction Skills, OSHA 10 for General Industry, First Aid/CPR/AED, forklift operation, and the Museum’s Blue Flag Rail Safety certification. Participants also work on real world projects to show potential employers a portfolio of completed work, along with the soft skills of demonstrating on-time attendance for six months.
The Road to Careers program is a six-year, $24 million state investment designed to strengthen Maryland’s workforce pipeline through pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship opportunities, while also providing critical supportive services to ensure training completion and job placement.
Restore Baltimore is made possible through a combination of federal grants, state investments including this award, corporate sponsors, and individual gifts.
Cohort 9 began today, and recruitment for the next Restore Baltimore cohort is expected to open in August 2026, with information sessions held at the B&O Railroad Museum. More information is available at borail.org.
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About the B&O Railroad Museum
The B&O Railroad Museum, located in Baltimore, Md., is the birthplace of American railroading. The Museum is a full affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and was also designated a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site by the National Park Service. It is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American railroading and its impact on American society, culture, and economy. The Museum is home to the oldest, most comprehensive collection of railroad artifacts in the Western Hemisphere, including an unparalleled roster of 19th and 20th century railroad equipment, the 1851 Mt. Clare Station, the 1884 Baldwin Roundhouse, and the first mile of commercial railroad track in America. The Museum welcomes guests from all 50 states and 40 countries every year. For more information, please call 410- 752-2490 or visit www.BORail.org. For more information on the 200th anniversary of American railroading in 2027, please visit www.americanrail200.org.
Media Contact:
Stephanie Jayakanthan
B & O Railroad Museum
Sjayakanthan@borail.org
520-233-3947
