Offshore wind
is a new clean energy industry taking root in Maryland and proposed projects
should allow new or existing training centers to successfully enter the
offshore wind industry. Proposed projects must be utilized to provide education
of a trade skill(s) and safety training for the offshore wind industry in
Maryland; however, proposed projects should be designed to serve related
industries and sectors as well. Applicants may design their proposed projects
by mixing and matching any and all of the eligible grant fund uses for capital
and operational expenditures specified below.
Capital Expenditures:
Grant funds may be used to offset capital
expenditures such as:
- Creation or expansion of a training center, including relocation
costs, new construction of real property, and renovations to existing real
property; and/or,
- Purchase and installation of new or manufacturer-refurbished
training-related equipment at a new or existing real property(s).
Grant funds
may not be used to offset
capital expenditures such as:
- Purchase of new or existing real property; however, the 25
percent of the total project costs provided by the Applicant as matching
funds may be used for this purpose; and,
- Relocation costs for the Applicant’s employees or personnel,
including, but not limited to, housing, travel, and food.
Operating Expenditures:
Grant funds may be used to offset operating expenditures such as:
- Curriculum development and/or training center certification or
licensing of a technical trade skill(s) and safety skills for the offshore
wind industry; and/or,
- Operational costs to hold the training courses of a technical
trade skill(s) and safety skills for the offshore wind industry.
- This includes, but is not limited to, training center overhead,
instructor salaries and benefits, and training supplies & materials,
including personal protection equipment (PPE) for both the training
course and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19).
- Training centers must provide technical and safety training at no cost to all
participating students.
- Training centers must ensure all of the participating students
complete, at a minimum, the United States Department of Labor’s (DOL)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) 10-Hour safety
course for general construction.
- Applicants must provide an outreach plan to prospective students
from historically underserved communities, including, but not limited to
minorities, women, people with disabilities, and veterans of the United
States Armed Forces in Maryland.
- Applicants must provide an outreach plan to prospective students
who are unemployed, under-employed, currently incarcerated, and
individuals returning from incarceration (returning citizens).
- Grantees will be required to demonstrate efforts to maintain
records of professional progress of all participating students once they
have completed their training. This includes, but is not limited to, work
history, additional certifications obtained, and post training employment
for at least one year after graduation from the training center.
Project Priorities:
MEA will
prioritize applications that incorporate the following aspects into the
proposed project:
- Curriculum development and training center certification of the
Global Wind Organization (GWO) Basic Technical Training (BTT) Standard. This course offering
should be incorporated into an existing training center in Maryland that
is in the process of or has completed its curriculum development and
training center certification of the GWO Basic Safety Training (BST)
Standard and the GWO BST Refresher (BSTR) Standard.
- Curriculum development and training center certification of the
GWO Basic Safety Training Online Partial Refresher (BSTR-P) Standard. This course offering
should be incorporated into an existing training center in Maryland that
is in the process of or has completed its curriculum development and
training center certification of the GWO BST Standard and the GWO BSTR
Standard.
- Curriculum development and training center certification of the
Global Wind Organization (GWO) GWO Slinger Signaller/Rigger Signal Person. This course offering
should be incorporated into an existing training center in Maryland that
is in the process of or has completed its curriculum development and
training center certification of the GWO BST Standard and the GWO BSTR
Standard.
- Training centers that incorporate best commercially reasonable
efforts to provide online/remote learning. This includes, but is not
limited to, providing notebook/laptop computers and access to internet
and/or cell service to all participating students at no cost to said participating students during the
entirety of the training program.
- Training centers that provide a monetary stipend for all
participating students. This includes, but is not limited to, providing paid
educational training, travel stipend, and/or food/grocery stipend to all
participating students at no
cost to said participating students during the entirety of the
training program. MEA will prohibit a training center from trying to
recoup a stipend from a participating student that does not complete the
training program.
- Training centers that provide professional and personal
development services to all participating students at no cost to said participating students during the
entirety of the training program. Professional and personal development
services include, but are not limited to, résumé development, interview
preparation, professional etiquette, and personal financial coaching.
MEA anticipates the Program application and evaluation process will adhere to the following timeline:
- October 15, 2020: Fiscal Year 2021 program announced
- January 15, 2021: The deadline to submit applications is at 11:59 pm Eastern
- February 2021: Application review period
- March 2021: Target for grant award announcements
- April 2021: Target date for having grant agreements signed (projects begin)
MEA will make every effort to adhere to the anticipated timeline for the Program’s application and evaluation process; however, delays may occur that are within or outside of MEA’s control. MEA asks that all applicants plan the start dates of their proposed projects accordingly and include a reasonable amount of flexibility. MEA thanks you in advance for your patience and understanding.
The Program utilizes an online application submission portal called Jotform, that all applicants are required to use when submitting grant applications. Please review the FY21 OSW Workforce Training Notice of Availability (NOA) document for a complete overview of the program including eligibility, application requirements, and general terms & conditions before submitting an application. MEA will not consider late applications.
Click the link below to begin your application.
Click Here to Apply Application Deadline: January 1, 2021 at 11:59 PM Eastern FY 2020 Offshore Wind Grant Reporting Documents
FY 2019 Offshore Wind Grant Reporting Documents
FY 2018 Offshore Wind Grant Reporting Documents
MEA has compiled a number of useful resources that will help you understand the basics of wind energy, deployment of small & community scale wind projects, Maryland’s offshore wind developments, and how you can plan a career in the wind energy industry.
Land Based Wind
Offshore Wind
Wind Energy Resources
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