Applications are now being accepted for the Offshore Wind Works – Workforce Training & Development Grants.
Donor Name: Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center (MassCEC)
State: Massachusetts
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/02/2024
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
With the construction of the Vineyard Wind 1 project well underway and Massachusetts planning to procure thousands of additional megawatts of offshore wind energy, there is an increasingly urgent need to ensure that they have a qualified, well-trained, safe and equitable workforce to plan, build, operate, and maintain these projects.
By supporting a network of training providers, academic institutions, community-based organizations and more, Offshore Wind Works (OSWW) is expanding the Commonwealth’s capacity to develop a Massachusetts workforce that can plan, deploy, operate, and maintain offshore wind farms in southern New England, as well as support the manufacturing of offshore wind components and its related supply chain. The program offers support for “infrastructure” projects that construct or upgrade workforce- or training-related equipment, technology, and/or facilities to better meet the needs of the industry and their specific program. OSWW provides support for other types of workforce development projects, including training programs, programs with a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice (DEIJ) focus, or studies related to workforce, worker safety, or diversity in the offshore wind industry.
- Track 1: Workforce Development Programming. Proposals for new workforce training initiatives, expansion of ongoing initiatives, or a workforce-related study. MassCEC highly encourages proposals to incorporate project elements that advance Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (“DEIJ”) principles.
- Track 2: Workforce Infrastructure. Proposals for the construction, purchase, expansion, or upgrade of workforce- or training-related equipment, technology, and/or facilities to better meet the needs of the offshore wind industry.
- Track 3: Worker Training for Offshore Wind Port Terminals (Sponsored by Vineyard Wind). Proposals for workforce development initiatives that specifically target maritime workers to ensure the Massachusetts labor pool is adequately prepared to work within an offshore wind terminal.
Funding Information
- Up to $8 Million Dollars is available for awards under this Solicitation.
- Available Funding for Tracks
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- There is a preferred maximum award amount of $300,000 for projects under Track 1
- A preferred maximum award amount of $2,000,000 for projects under Track 2
- A preferred maximum award amount of $1,000,000 for projects under Track 3.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants may be an individual company, organization, or institution, or may be a team of such entities. Applicants are encouraged to engage with, partner with, and/or demonstrate support from the offshore wind industry, including developers and other companies, and/or Massachusetts-based training or educational providers with existing programs. The lead applicant must fall into at least one of the following categories:
- A community-based nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status and located in Massachusetts
- A public government entity
- An accredited Massachusetts school
- An accredited Massachusetts higher education institution offering two- or four-year degrees
- A local labor union
- An established private workforce training provider or other private company doing business in Massachusetts in partnership with an organization, entity, school, institution, or union that falls under one of the categories listed above.
For more information, visit Mass Clean Energy Center.
