The Blue-Collar Project

Workforce development is a community effort — and the 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲-𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 was proud to help lead the conversation! Last week, BCP proudly served as the headline sponsor of the 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗙𝗖𝗕𝗜𝗔) General Membership Meeting at Ceresville Mansion.

During the meeting, 𝗕𝗖𝗣 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗞𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗼𝗱𝘀𝗼𝗻 shared future business plans for BCP and participated in a roundtable discussion with industry leaders focused on Frederick County workforce development initiatives and strengthening career pathways in the skilled trades. The conversation brought together leaders committed to preparing the next generation of skilled professionals and addressing the growing demand for trades talent across our region.

Keynote speakers 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗶𝘅𝗼𝗻𝗮, Co-Founder of Dynamic Automotive, and 𝗗𝗿. 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗸,President of Frederick Community College, shared insights on the importance of education, industry collaboration, and expanding opportunities for local youth to explore in-demand careers in the trades.

Thank you to FCBIA for hosting an important discussion on building a stronger workforce for Frederick County!

All winter long, 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲-𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 has been part of 𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 on Carroll Creek in Frederick—and the support for 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙨 𝘼𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 has been incredible!

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲! This boat, sponsored by 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗚𝗮𝘀, isn’t just a display - it represents opportunity. Deeply grateful to them for believing in 𝗕𝗖𝗣 and creating this opportunity through Mass Ascension—your support is helping open real doors for the next generation of skilled trades professionals.

𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://igfn.us/vf/STTWS2025/team/MassAscension

Let’s finish strong, together!

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲-𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 toured neighboring Hagerstown manufacturer 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗰., where everything from 5-gallon water bottles to the iconic bear honey bottle is produced and distributed across the East Coast. Plant manager Mike walked us through the process, equipment, and teamwork behind the operation.

What stood out most is Parker Plastics’ commitment to community—partnering with recovery and reentry individuals to provide employment, cross-training, and real opportunities for advancement in a safe, supportive environment.

Huge thanks to Mike and the Parker Plastics team for investing in people and changing lives. We look forward to working together to continue that impact.

𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗕𝗖𝗣 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗸: https://lnkd.in/enkZRiSj

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲-𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 is proud to award 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲 a scholarship to pursue his CDL. A Brunswick High School Class of 2025 graduate and young entrepreneur from Jefferson, Weston grew up around farms and open land, developing a strong work ethic and passion for land management and equipment. He launched his own company, Willow Springs Custom Services, providing brush removal, grading, field mowing, and property cleanup. Earning his CDL will allow him to operate larger trucks and trailers, take on bigger projects, and continue expanding his business while building a reputation for reliability in the trades.

This is why voting for Blue-Collar Project through 𝙎𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙤𝙡𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚 matters. Every vote and donation helps open doors for young people like Weston—turning potential into opportunity and building the next generation of skilled trades professionals.

𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗕𝗖𝗣 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗸:
https://lnkd.in/enkZRiSj

𝗞𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗼𝗱𝘀𝗼𝗻 connected with Javon through their church after he moved from Baltimore City to Frederick County following the loss of a family member. While living in the city, a driver’s license and car weren’t necessary—but in Frederick County, they quickly became essential for pursuing a career in the skilled trades.

Through hands-on support, 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲-𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 helped Javon obtain his driver’s license, secure reliable transportation, and land a job with one of our valued partners. This is what removing barriers and creating real career pathways looks like.

This is why voting for BCP through 𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 matters. Every vote and donation helps open doors for young people like Javon—turning potential into opportunity and building the next generation of skilled trades professionals.

Vote and donate to support us: https://igfn.us/vf/STTWS2025/team/MassAscension

We’re honored to share that the 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞-𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 has been awarded a $𝟓𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 to support our 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒔 program.

This funding helps connect underserved youth from 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐱, 𝐎𝐧 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐎𝐰𝐧, 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐱 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡 with hands-on training opportunities at local corporate partners’ facilities, including 𝐎’𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐓𝐍𝐓 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐨.

We are truly grateful to the Delaplaine Foundation, which awarded our very first start-up grant when our organization was still in its infancy. Today, we are humbled by its continued generosity and strong commitment to our mission.

By removing transportation barriers, we’re opening doors to real-world career exploration and creating clear pathways into high-demand skilled trades.

Thank you for believing in the next generation of the workforce.



𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲-𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿’𝘀 𝗦𝗧𝗧𝗪𝗦 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁! Building on the Hain/Dailey Team at Merrill Lynch’s donation, 𝗦𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗱 $𝟱𝟬𝟬 to ’s matching gift—meaning every dollar donated goes twice as far. Let’s rally together and reach the full $𝟮,𝟱𝟬𝟬 match.

Your vote truly matters! It directly supports our mission to educate the next generation of skilled trades—and this year, it helps fund an 𝗛𝗩𝗔𝗖 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝘁 𝗙𝗖𝗖 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗮!

𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://igfn.us/vf/STTWS2025/team/MassAscension

From all of us at 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲-𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁, we wish you a 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 🎄𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 🎉

Thank you to our supporters, partners, sponsors, volunteers, and friends who made this year possible. Your belief in our mission and commitment to supporting the next generation entering the skilled trades continues to make a lasting impact

As we look ahead to the new year, we’re excited for what’s to come and grateful to have such a strong community beside us!

Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a bright, successful year ahead!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our happy hour — what a night filled with fun, community, and holiday cheer!

We are incredibly grateful to for donating $𝟭,𝟬𝟬𝟬 and for generously offering a 𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿-𝗳𝗼𝗿-𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 $𝟮,𝟱𝟬𝟬! That kind of support makes a real impact.

A big thank you to 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗶𝗻/𝗗𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗟𝘆𝗻𝗰𝗵 for kicking things off with a $𝟯𝟱𝟬 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, followed by many additional individual contributions throughout the evening.

Let’s keep the momentum going. With Thompson Gas’s matching gift, every dollar donated goes twice as far. Help us reach the 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 $𝟮,𝟱𝟬𝟬 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 and maximize this incredible opportunity to support the mission of Blue-Collar Project. Vote here for Mass Ascension: https://igfn.us/vf/STTWS2025/team/MassAscension

Thank you for showing up, giving back, and believing in what we do!

𝗧𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁! Join us at 𝟱:𝟬𝟬 𝗽.𝗺. at the Thompson Gas boat on Carroll Creek (next to the library) as we celebrate being selected again for 𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲.

Can’t make it to the boat?
Meet us at 𝗜𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗺 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝟱:𝟭𝟱–𝟱:𝟯𝟬 𝗽.𝗺. for drink specials, networking, door prizes, and great company.

Hope to see you tonight as we celebrate the season with and support -CollarProject.

The 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞-𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭'𝐬 kickoff celebration with 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐬 is TOMORROW, December 16th! We’re gathering to celebrate Blue-Collar Project being selected once again by as the beneficiary of their beautifully decorated boat in 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 on Carroll Creek.

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞:
• 𝟓:𝟎𝟎 𝐩.𝐦. – Meet at the Thompson Gas boat on Carroll Creek (next to the library) to admire the display and hear brief remarks.
• 𝟓:𝟏𝟓–𝟓:𝟑𝟎 𝐩.𝐦. – After-party begins at Idiom Brewery.

If you can’t make it to the boat at 5:00 PM, feel free to meet us directly at Idiom Brewery between 5:15–5:30 PM. We’d still love to have you join the celebration.

We’ll take a short walk along Carroll Creek together, enjoy the decorated boats and the organizations they represent, and then continue the festivities at Idiom with drink specials, networking, door prizes, and great company.

Join us as we celebrate the season, highlight this wonderful partnership, and support the mission of Blue-Collar Project. We hope to see you there!