The administration of Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker is to provide grant funding to eight Massachusetts organisations to expand access to offshore wind training opportunities.
The $1.6m funding, awarded through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s Expanding Access to Opportunity in the Offshore Wind Workforce Program, will support the development of equitable, accessible offshore wind workforce training programmes.
Organisations located in Amherst, Boston, Fall River, Falmouth, Lowell, Martha’s Vineyard, New Bedford, and Taunton are involved in the programme.
The institutions and organisations receiving funding include the Asian American Civic Association ($250,000), Adult Continuing Education ($182,260), Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology and UMass Lowell ($241,300) and Bristol Community College and Old Bedford Village ($143,550).
“Massachusetts has led the way on the development of the emerging offshore wind industry, and our Administration is focused on ensuring women and minority candidates have access to the critical training programs they need to take advantage of these new job opportunities,” said Baker.
“Our plan to invest $100m in critical port infrastructure through our ARPA spending proposal, along with these vital workforce training programmes, will help unlock significant economic opportunities associated with offshore wind development and ensure that everyone in the Commonwealth can benefit from the potential jobs created in the years to come.”
Programmes supported by this funding will increase access to offshore wind training opportunities by building interest in offshore wind careers through orientation programmes at high school and adult education levels; targeting recruitment for existing training programmes, and providing internships and apprenticeships; highlighting pathways to employment in offshore wind; and providing financial incentives, support and services to individuals to enable participation in training programmes.
The eight organizations receiving funding span a range of approaches and partnerships to expand access to existing programs, educate groups and individuals about opportunities, and begin building pathways to enter and advance through the emerging offshore wind industry’s workforce.
In 2019 and 2020, MassCEC committed to $2.2m in grants to support new or expanded offshore wind workforce training and educational programmes in the Commonwealth at twelve institutions, organisations, and companies.