(i) accessing federal or other grant funding for the Program; and

(ii) awarding corps participants with:

1. academic credit for their service; or

2. credit for prior learning experience toward trade or vocational certification.

(2) The Department shall consult with the Maryland Higher Education Commission, institutions of postsecondary education, the Maryland Department of Labor, and any other entity the Department determines relevant in determining the feasibility of implementing the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(b) The Department may use money from the YA Pathway Fund under § 21-205 of this subtitle and the MSY Pathway Fund under § 21-206 of this subtitle to:

(1) create a Maryland Civilian Climate Corps to conserve and restore State and local parks and engage in other climate or environmental projects;

(2) create a Maryland Historic Trades Corps to place young adults and young veterans in regionally based work crews tasked with rehabilitation of State historic resources; and

(3) expand the Maryland Conservation Corps to engage in projects that manage natural resources and conserve parks.