Offshore Wind Workforce and Skills Development Grant Challenge
The application period is now closed. For information on the awards visit this link
The Offshore Wind Workforce and Skills Development Grant Challenge is a competitive funding opportunity that will award grants to launch or expand workforce development and skills training programs focused on strengthening and diversifying the NJ offshore wind workforce. A total of $3,725,000 will be available through this program, with individual awards ranging from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $1,000,000. Priority in this grant challenge will be given to applicants that propose initiatives supporting training and job access for residents of Overburdened Communities.
All applications must include at least one Community-Based Organization with demonstrated experience serving a New Jersey Overburdened Community, as defined by New Jersey’s Environmental Justice Law. The Community-Based Organization must either be the primary applicant or a strategic collaborator with the primary applicant.
This Grant Challenge is part of NJEDA’s efforts to develop the Wind Institute for Innovation and Training.
PROGRAM DETAILS
NJEDA is seeking proposals from organizations that can provide skill development, workforce training, job placement, and other related workforce supports to develop, implement, or expand workforce development initiatives to establish the offshore wind talent pipeline in the state.
Applicants must submit proposals that outline compelling plans to:
- Develop or expand a program that will allow New Jerseyans to access workforce opportunities in the offshore wind industry by providing tangible skill development and/or job readiness training.
- Components of programs must include direct workforce training, and where relevant, support services such as access to career services, mentorship, family services, counseling, and transportation.
- Proposed initiatives must focus on one or more of the following occupation areas as defined by Standard Occupation Codes (SOC) (see detailed Eligible Occupation List):
- Operations Specialties Managers (SOC 11-3000)
- Construction Trade Workers (SOC 47-5000)
- Extraction Workers (SOC 47-5000)
- Other Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations (SOC 49-9000)
- Assemblers and Fabricators (SOC 51-2000)
- Metal Workers and Plastic Workers (SOC 51-4000)
- Plant and System Operators (SOC 51-8000)
- Other Production Occupations (SOC 51-9000)
- Water Transportation Workers (SOC 53-5000)
- Material Moving Workers (SOC 53-7000)
- Engage with industry and other stakeholders to design and implement a program that prepares and/or connects participants with job opportunities in offshore wind.
- Develop and/or utilize outreach and recruitment practices, program design approaches, and wrap around supports as needed such as mentorship, transportation, and childcare that target and support a diverse and inclusive pool of training participants to successfully complete the program.
- Execute the project efficiently and on schedule, achieving well-defined milestones to complete the proposed initiative.
ELIGIBILITY
The Eligibility for this Grant Challenge has been revised.
The Grant Challenge is open to public and nonprofit entities that can design and execute workforce and skills training programs for the offshore wind industry. These entities can include but are not limited to Community-Based Organizations, workforce training organizations, labor unions, workforce placement intermediaries, technical high schools, community colleges, universities, non-profit organizations, and regional workforce development boards. Private, for-profit entities are not eligible as primary applicants, but may be part of an applicant team as collaborators.
- All applications must include at least one Community-Based Organization with demonstrated experience serving a New Jersey Overburdened Community, as defined by New Jersey’s Environmental Justice Law. The Community-Based Organization must either be the primary applicant or a strategic collaborator with the primary applicant. All applications that include the Community-Based Organization as a strategic collaborator must clearly define the Community-Based Organization’s role and specifically it’s alignment with the CBO’s mission and/or services and the amount of the grant request allocated to the Community-Based Organization for the agreed upon role on the applicant team.
- For the purposes of this training challenge, a Community-Based Organization is defined as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides direct services or supports to a specific geographic NJ community(ies) or specific segments of a New Jersey community(ies). For the purposes of this Challenge, government entities, K-12 schools, and institutions of higher learning do not qualify as Community-Based Organizations. However, these entities may be the primary applicant or an additional collaborator on the applicant team.
- NJ’s Environmental Justice Law, N.J.S.A 13:1D-157, defines Overburdened Communities as any census block group, as determined with the most recent United States Census in which: 1) at least 35 percent of the households qualify as low-income households; 2) at least 40 percent of residents identify as minority or as members of a State recognized tribal community; or 3) at least 40 percent of the households have limited English proficiency.
- Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with additional entities, including for-profit or non-profit entities, to design and implement the training program as needed.
The primary applicant must be in substantial good standing with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (LWD) and NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to participate in the program. The primary applicant must also provide a current tax clearance certificate as part of the application to demonstrate the applicant is properly registered to do business in New Jersey and in good standing with the NJ Division of Taxation.
AWARD SIZE AND DISTRIBUTION
A total of $3,725,000 will be available through this program, with individual awards ranging from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $1,000,000.
KEY DATES FOR GRANT CHALLENGE
December 8, 2022 at 10am: Application portal opens
December 14, 2022 at 5pm: Optional Potential Collaborator Forms Due
December 16, 2022 at 12pm: Completed Optional Potential Collaborator Forms Distributed
(Note: these forms will only be distributed to entities that submit a form by December 14th at 5pm)
January 11, 2023 at 5pm: Questions Due
February 10, 2023 at 5pm: Applications Due
PROGRAM GUIDE
QUESTIONS
Q&A will be posted on this page on a rolling basis. Questions are due by February 1, 2023 at 5pm and should be submitted via email to Windinstitute@njeda.com.
Please review the Q&A here (revised Feb 2, 2023).