The Challenge: Create an Offshore Wind Workforce
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 we have a qualified, well-trained, safe and equitable workforce to plan, build, operate, and maintain these projects.
About Offshore Wind Works
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.
Workforce Development projects: $300,000
Training Infrastructure projects: $2 million
Port Workforce Training project: $1 million
Batch 1: February 2, 2024 by 5 pm ET
Batch 2: April 26, 2024 by 5 pm ET
Funding Schedule
For the Fall 2023 solicitation, MassCEC will review proposals and make awards in two batches. Proposals must be submitted no later than 5:00 pm ET on the relevant due date for each batch.
All dates indicated in the following schedule are subject to change at MassCEC's discretion.
| Process Step | Timing |
|---|---|
Release of Solicitation |
November 14, 2023 |
November 28, 2023 |
|
Questions due to MassCEC via email to |
Ongoing |
Questions with Answers Posted to MassCEC Website |
Ongoing |
Proposals Due |
Batch 1: February 2, 2024, by 5 pm ET Batch 2: April 26, 2024 by 5 pm ET |
Notification of Award |
Batch 1: March 2024 Batch 2: June 2024 |
Contracting Process |
Batch 1: Spring/Summer 2024 Batch 2: Summer/Fall 2024 |
Who's Eligible
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
Apply
Application Process
The Fall 2023 funding opportunity is now open. This solicitation has three tracks, which are described in the Solicitation below. Attachments A and B are common to all tracks; they are included in the main solicitation document. In addition, each track has track-specific materials, provided below.
Submissions must be in electronic form, including a completed version of Attachment C, Attachment D, and either Attachment E or Attachment F, depending on the track for which you are applying.
Proposals should be emailed to offshorewind@masscec.com by 5:00 pm on the deadline date with the words "2023.2 Offshore Wind Workforce Solicitation Application" in the subject line.
Application Materials (All Applicants)
Track 1
Track 2
Networking
MassCEC is compiling a list of potential applicants interested in networking and partnerships for the open OSWW grant. View the list.
Sign up to the partnership list by sending your contact name, contact info, type of organization, and chosen focus area(s) to offshorewind@masscec.com.
Webinar: OSWW Workforce Grants
Learn about the Offshore Wind Works Workforce Grants, including details on the separate tracks, eligibility, budget, and the application process.