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.
Please review this Notice of Intent regarding our next funding opportunity!
mid-March 2025
Funding Schedule
This funding opportunity will re-open in January 2025, at which time further schedule details will be available.
| Process Step | Timing |
|---|---|
Release of Solicitation |
January 2025 |
Webinar |
Early February 2025 |
Questions due to MassCEC via email to |
February 2025 |
Questions with answers posted to MassCEC website |
TBD |
Proposals due |
March 2025 |
Notification of award |
May 2025 |
Contracting process |
Summer 2025 |
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
The program is currently closed. New application instructions and materials will be provided here when the program re-opens.
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.
You can read about past awardees and their projects at Offshore Wind Works Grants and Community of Practice.
Additional Funding Opportunities
Equity Workforce Planning and Capacity Grants
$50,000 for Planning; $150,000 for Capacity
May 19, 2025
Priority Deadlines:
- 1st Priority Deadline: Dec 6, 2024
- 2nd Priority Deadline: Feb 28, 2025
Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grants
Career Pathway Training: up to $1,200,000
Career Awareness: up to $400,000
February 7, 2025
May 2, 2025
Clean Energy Internship Program for Employers
$4,320/intern for Fall or Spring session; $8,640/intern for Summer session