Offshore Wind Works - Workforce Training & Development Grants

The Challenge: Create an Offshore Wind Workforce 

With the construction of the Vineyard Wind 1 project having commenced offshore in 2022 and other projects queued up to follow—including SouthCoast Wind, there is an increasingly urgent need to ensure that there is a qualified, well-trained, safe and diverse 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 up to $1 million per project 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 offers up to $300,000 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.  

MassCEC recommends that each proposal include DEIJ elements in the form of goals, incentives, specific tasks, and funding allocations designed to broaden access to training programs for underserved individuals. 

This funding round seeks specifically to advance projects and initiatives that relate to one or more of the following focus areas: 

  1. Skilled Trades
  2. Career and Technical Education
  3. Secondary and Higher Education
  4. Infrastructure
  5. Worker Safety
Status
Closed
Award Potential
Training infrastructure projects: $1 million; Other projects: $300,000
Application Deadline
Tentative: Spring 2024
Questions? Contact

Funding Schedule

The Spring 2023 solicitation is now closed.  The following schedule is provided for reference only. 

Please check back in early 2024 for our next funding opportunity.

Previous round, for reference only
Process Step Timing

Release of Solicitation 

February 17, 2023

Informational Webinar

March 3, 2023

Questions due to MassCEC via email at offshorewind@masscec.com

March 8, 2023

Questions with Answers Posted to MassCEC Website

March 15, 2023

Proposals Due

April 28, 2023 by 5:00 PM EST

Notification of Award

June 2023

Contracting Process

Summer/Fall 2023

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 

For full Program details, please refer to the Solicitation

Networking

MassCEC is compiling a list of potential applicants interested in networking and partnerships for the open OSWW grant. View the list here.

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 eligibility, budget, and the application process. Watch a webinar recording or view the accompanying slides.

Additional Funding Opportunities