The Massachusetts Baker-Polito Administration is allocating USD 721,500 in grants to six academic institutions and labor organizations to establish workforce training and development programs to support the state’s offshore wind sector.
The awards, which include USD 200,000 from Vineyard Wind’s Windward Workforce Fund, will be used to grow a workforce required to meet the needs of the industry, as well as for the construction of the Vineyard Wind project .
The programs will offer basic safety and technical training and address a mix of training target areas including career intro courses, and technician and professional certificates while providing support for Vineyard Wind and future offshore wind construction.
Bristol Community College will establish basic safety and technical training at its campus in New Bedford, with Massachusetts Maritime Academy establishing all five modules of GWO basic safety training and developing an introduction to offshore wind course for cadets.
UMass Amherst will complete initial design and develop a professional certificate program to be offered at the Mt. Ida campus in Newton and Pile Drivers and Divers Local 56 will sponsor trade union members for GWO basic safety training at Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
Furthermore, Cape Cod Community College will develop and deliver a suite of courses to introduce students and workers to careers in offshore wind, with Adult Continuing Education – Martha’s Vineyard (ACE MV) providing on-island courses and training that supports basic safety and technical certification.
“The historic and bipartisan energy legislation signed in 2016 put Massachusetts in position to build the first large-scale offshore wind project in the United States and continue our leadership as a hub for the offshore wind industry on the East Coast,” said Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker .
“As we prepare for the construction and installation of offshore wind projects, these grants will help establish a network of critical training programs in the Commonwealth to support local workers as they build this new frontier for American energy.”