by Anika Mittu ’19

 On May 8, Governor Hogan signed bills to reduce the cost of community college for students from lower income households. Beginning in 2019, the new law applies to individuals from families who earn less than 125,000 per year and single adults who earn less than 90,000 dollars per year, providing members from both groups with up to 5,000 dollars in scholarships.

 This initiative will obviously provide increased access to an education. At Montgomery College, for example, a student who earned 5,000 dollars in scholarships would completely eliminate tuition costs. Yet, the new law will also benefit the state as a whole. By making community college a viable option for many, the new law will give many individuals the skills necessary to work in higher-paying fields and earn higher salaries. With residents earning more, spending increases, and Maryland’s economy will likely grow at a faster rate than the previous 1.02% per year, as measured in 2016. An educated workforce also has an ability to adapt to new technology and think creatively when problem solving, a necessary task for businesses to remain competitive in a sea of constant innovation