The Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) and Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) is issuing this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to establish new Industrial Assessment Centers (IACs) at community colleges, trade schools, and union training programs, as well as to create new Building Training and Assessment Centers (BTACs) at institutions of higher education, including Tribal colleges and universities. The new IACs and BTACs that will be created with this funding will build upon the demonstrated success of applied learning environments and hands-on training approaches of existing IACs. The IACs also will draw on the unique strengths, geographic reach, and faculty/student composition of trade schools, community colleges, union training programs, and other institutions of higher education. The new IACs will focus on high-quality skilled trades job pathways in fields such as industrial electrician, energy management, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing, while providing hands-on support to small and medium manufactures. The new BTACs will expand these benefits to commercial and institutional buildings to help lower utility costs and allow companies to reinvest in businesses, employees, and community services. BTACs will train students and workers as engineers, architects, building scientists, building energy permitting and enforcement officials, and building technicians in energy-efficient design and operation.

DOE intends that the investments made under this FOA will support the broader government-wide approach to strengthening domestic manufacturing and economic resilience; putting the United States on a path to achieve net-zero emissions economy-wide; empowering workers; fostering safe, healthy, and inclusive workplaces and communities, and developing a diverse workforce well-qualified to build and maintain the country’s energy infrastructure.