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Area of Interest (AOI) Description :  The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is excited to announce AOI 2 of the Maryland Offshore Wind Education and Workforce Training Program: Workforce Training (the Program) for Fiscal Year 2025. The Program provides grant funding on a competitive basis to support new or existing workforce training centers offset costs associated with developing or expanding an offshore wind workforce training program. 

Applications will be accepted until Friday, December 13, 2024 at 3:00 pm EST 

Proposed projects must provide a direct benefit to Maryland’s offshore wind supply chain and workforce, through connecting individuals with certifications and employment, and have a direct benefit to surrounding communities through offshore wind industry education. Offshore wind is a growing clean-energy industry in Maryland, and proposed projects should provide the target population with offshore wind training and education that certifies them in the skills necessary for employment in the industry.

MEA will consider applications for new or existing workforce training centers owned and/or operated by emerging businesses, including minority-owned emerging businesses, nonprofit organizations, governmental entities, and academic institutions that are expanding their course offerings for the offshore wind industry. 

Anticipated Funding 

A total budget of $1,500,000 for Fiscal Year 2024 is anticipated to be available for AOI 2: Workforce Training of the Program. The amount awarded may vary depending on the quantity and quality of applications received and MEA’s available resources within the fiscal year. MEA will provide funding up to 75 percent of total project costs, not to exceed $500,000 for applicants to develop and implement curriculum of new or existing offshore wind workforce training programs.

Eligible Applicants

The Program is open to nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, government and public institutions, and Maryland emerging businesses.

Business applicants must fit within the definition of an “Emerging Business.” For purposes of this program, an “Emerging Business” is defined, pursuant to Md. Code Ann., State Gov't § 9-20C-01(e), as “a business that is at least 51 percent owned and controlled by an individual or individuals who are certified to have a personal net worth, as defined in §14-301 of the State Finance and Procurement Article, that does not exceed $6,500,000 as adjusted each year for inflation according to the Consumer Price Index.” 

Applicants that do not meet the Emerging Business definition are not eligible to receive grant funding from the Program. 

Eligible Activities 

Grant funds under AOI 2: Workforce Training are provided to awardees to offset the costs of developing or expanding a new or existing offshore wind workforce training program.  

Projects must provide students with the skills, knowledge, and certifications necessary to obtain employment in the offshore wind industry and corresponding supply chain. 

Note: Grant Funds awarded under the Program are reimbursed to grantees. Only eligible costs incurred after the effective date of the grant award will be reimbursed.

Questions Can be Directed to: 

Interested applicants may submit questions, comments, concerns, and suggestions to the following MEA Program Manager:

Emma Stoney

wind.mea@maryland.gov

410-382-1605

Confidential and Personal Information  

In accordance with Section 4-501(c)(3) of the General Provisions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, MEA is required to advise Applicants of the following:

1. Any personal information requested in the Application is necessary to evaluate the eligibility of the Applicant for a Grant.
2. Failure to provide all required information will prevent MEA from processing the Application.
3. Some of this information may be provided to other agencies of the State to process the payment of Grant Funds if the Applicant is awarded a Grant.
4. The Applicant’s name, project information, and Grant award may be publicly accessible on our website if the Applicant is awarded a Grant.
5. As set forth in Section 4-502 of the General Provisions Article, an applicant has the right to inspect, amend, or correct a personal record as maintained by the Program.

All information submitted in a Grant Application is subject to the Maryland Public Information Act (PIA). If the Applicant believes information in the Application is confidential and therefore should be exempt from disclosure under the PIA, the Applicant shall clearly mark this information and identify it by page and section or line number. Upon request for information from a third party, MEA is required to make an independent determination whether the information must be disclosed under the PIA. Designating information as confidential does not guarantee that it will be exempt from disclosure.

Program Changes:

Any update (e.g, extension of a deadline) or clarification about the Program and any corrections to inadvertent errors in the Program information will be available on the Program webpage. In addition, MEA will communicate clarifications and updates made after the application deadline directly to applicants or grantees, as applicable, by letter and/or e-mail. The final grant amount for each Grantee will be made after review of all proposals received and is subject to funding availability for the Program and any relevant statutory requirement applicable at that time

Grant Program General Provisions: 

MEA grant programs are covered by general provisions that apply to all energy programs, the most current version of these General Provisions is v.3, February 2022.  The latest approved version of this document will be incorporated into all FY25 grant agreements issued by MEA.

In addition to the general provisions, MEA may at its sole discretion  obligate some, all, or none of the FY25 Program budget, based on the quality and eligibility of applications submitted to MEA. 

Program - Specific Requirements:

In addition to the general provisions, the following funding qualification applies to this program:

Applicants that are an Emerging Business or a Non-Profit must demonstrate they are registered and in good standing with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) by submitting a Certificate of Status. Certificates of Status may be ordered online from SDAT.

To receive grant funding for a project, the successful applicant must enter into a Grant Agreement with MEA by May  30, 2025, unless an extension is given in writing (email) by MEA.

A grant award will not be made for any work completed before the effective date of the Grant Agreement with MEA.

If applicable, Grantees shall ensure all equipment meets certain safety criteria including

• Be certified by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) participating in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) NRTL Program;
• Be in compliance with all applicable building, electric, and fire codes.