WASHINGTON – Today, National Governors Association (NGA) Chair Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and Vice Chair Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced a joint effort to expand access to good jobs and reignite the American Dream across the country.
Governor Stitt, who officially launched the Reigniting the American Dream initiative last week, is calling on all states to prioritize workforce development and help more Americans access the opportunities they need to thrive.
“A Good Jobs Economy is essential to reigniting the American Dream,” said Governor Stitt. “This year, I’m challenging every governor to build strong bridges between millions of Americans seeking good jobs and the employers eager to hire them. We need to think boldly and act urgently.”
As part of the initiative, Governor Stitt is encouraging states to consider establishing Good Jobs Funds that support scalable, high-impact workforce solutions. To lead by example, he announced an initial $19 million commitment in Oklahoma to jumpstart this work, including:
- $4.5 million in public funds through the Oklahoma Workforce Commission to expand proven local programs;
- Deployment of the Workforce Transformation Fund to align public and private resources around measurable workforce outcomes; and
- A $15 million philanthropic commitment from the George Kaiser Family Foundation to help Tulsans access good-paying jobs in sectors like manufacturing, advanced air mobility, and health care.
- These investments aim to catalyze broader public and philanthropic support to help more Oklahomans enter and stay in the middle class.
Governor Wes Moore, serving as NGA Vice Chair, is a key partner in advancing this bipartisan initiative. Under his leadership, Maryland is setting a national example with bold investments in workforce development and talent systems.
“We are excited to partner with Good Jobs Economy, launched by America Achieves as part of the NGA Chair’s Initiative, to expand access to high-quality jobs for more Marylanders,” said Governor Moore. “We’ll deploy state, philanthropic, and federal funding to scale what works, modernize our talent systems, and ensure Marylanders can access good jobs—while giving employers the talent they need.”
Maryland is committing:
- $25 million in public funds through the nationally recognized EARN program and the new RAISE Act;
- $15 million in additional philanthropic support;
- These resources will support more than 14,000 Marylanders in gaining in-demand skills and securing jobs in industries like cybersecurity, healthcare, IT, life sciences, and aerospace. Governor Moore’s strategy emphasizes employer partnerships, data-driven planning, and preparing for the implementation of Workforce Pell with strong accountability.
Together, Governors Stitt and Moore are demonstrating how bipartisan leadership can drive real results. Reigniting the American Dream is a national call to action: to invest in people, strengthen state economies, and ensure every American has access to a good job and a better future.
