DOE Announces $16 Million to Support Expanded Workforce Development Programs

DOE Announces $16 Million to Support Expanded Workforce Development Programs

DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) today announced $16 million to support the Industrial Assessment Center network by providing technical field managers and a mission integrator to build a clearinghouse to support centers and assist small- and medium-manufacturers. These field managers and mission integrators will be key to creating opportunities for IAC organizations to improve on current processes and increase their overall positive impact on the nation’s manufacturing base. Through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, MESC is committed to advancing a clean energy and manufacturing workforce that represents the diversity of America, and a reinvigorated manufacturing base prepared to lead the global energy transition.

The IAC Program funds institutions of higher education, community colleges, trade schools, and union training programs to identify opportunities that optimize energy efficiency and environmental performance at manufacturing and other industrial facilities. The technical field managers and mission integrator will be integral to IAC operations and program impact by increasing coordination between IACs and similar programs, mentoring and training staff, and expanding outreach with small- and medium-sized manufacturers. The selections are below.

• Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) [The Woodlands, TX] – As the clearinghouse/mission integrator, HARC will be building an online platform to connect manufacturers and technical subject matter experts as well as facilitate connections between elements of the IAC network through events and outreach. (DOE Share: $2.7 million)
• Michigan State University [East Lansing, MI] – As the technical field manager for the new IACs at community colleges, trade schools, and union training programs, Michigan State University will provide technical support and quality assurance to Expansion IACs in partnership with the Workforce Development Institute, Michigan’s AFL-CIO branch. (DOE Share: $5 million)
• Rutgers Center for Advanced Energy Systems [Piscataway, NJ] – As the technical field manager for the IACs at Institutes of Higher Education, Rutgers will continue to promote technical excellence and data collection for centers located at institutions of higher education while providing updates to the IAC infrastructure such as tracking onsite power recommendations. (DOE Share: $8 million)

Selection for award negotiations is not necessarily a commitment by DOE to issue an award or provide funding.  Before funding is issued, DOE, its partnership intermediary ENERGYWERX, and the applicants will undergo a negotiation process, and DOE and ENERGYWERX may cancel negotiations and rescind the selection for any reason during that time. MESC is working in partnership with ENERGYWERX, through an innovative Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) set up by the DOE's Office of Technology Transitions (OTT). This agreement enables ENERGYWERX to broaden DOE’s engagement with innovative organizations and non-traditional partners, facilitating the rapid development, scaling, and deployment of clean energy solutions. 

Learn more about the MESC mission to catalyze investments in America’s energy future in support of the re-shoring, skilling, and scaling of U.S. manufacturing across energy supply chains.