The offshore wind industry is growing. According to the 2024 Offshore Wind Market Report, the U.S. industry’s project pipeline grew by 53% from the previous year—enough to power more than 26 million homes if fully developed. As the U.S. offshore wind industry grows, so does the number of good-paying job opportunities and the demand to fill them in communities across the nation.

To meet these growing demands, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) has announced the $1.9 million Offshore Wind Workforce Readiness program through a Partnership Intermediary Agreement with ConnectWerx. This $1.9 million opportunity will make awards of up to $250,000 to successful applicants offering offshore wind education and training programs that offer apprenticeship readiness programs, registered apprenticeship programs, or maritime/mariner programs, with particular attention to programs that support underserved communities.

DOE seeks to fund programs that are in alignment with local and regional organizations, and that have relationships with employers within the U.S. offshore wind supply chain. Domestically deployed clean energy supply chain and technologies will make American energy affordable and reliable.

The Offshore Wind Workforce Readiness program supports the following objectives:

• Objective 1: Addressing the immediate and anticipated workforce needs of the domestic offshore wind industry through the deployment of trainings.
• Objective 2: Broaden paths to high-quality offshore wind jobs.
• Objective 3: Deliver holistic supportive services to training participants.

Eligibility

Successful applicants will have hiring commitments from employer partners and consider each region’s unique workforce solutions to scale up offshore wind deployment. These awards will build upon existing training infrastructure.

Organizations that are eligible to apply for and directly receive funds (“Prime Recipients”) include:

• Union training programs and labor organizations.
• Education and workforce training providers.
• Community colleges.
• Trade schools.
• Other apprenticeship or apprenticeship readiness training programs.