Industrial Research and Assessment Centers

Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) Industrial Training and Assessment Centers Funding Opportunity Announcement

MESC has announced a $24 million funding opportunity to train students and incumbent workers for high-quality careers in clean energy, energy efficiency, and advanced manufacturing that do not require a four-year degree, and help small and midsized manufacturers (SMMs) save money, reduce energy waste, and improve productivity. Please read the full announcement and how to apply: read the announcement.
Applications are due on May 16, 2024, at 3 p.m. ET.

The IAC Program advances a clean energy and manufacturing workforce that represents the diversity of America, and a reinvigorated manufacturing base prepared to lead the global clean energy transition.

The Industrial Research and Assessment Centers 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 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) allocated $150 million to expand the program in support of the Biden Administration’s goals of creating pathways to high-quality jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union, reducing industrial emissions, and enhancing American manufacturing competitiveness in a net-zero economy.

The expanded IAC Program will:

Continue to support engineers-in-training and Small- and Medium-Sized Manufacturers (SMMs) nationwide, including through the program’s growing emphasis on decarbonization and resiliency planning alongside efficiency and performance. Learn more about the IACs.
Establish five Regional Centers of Excellence among existing IACs to connect and amplify the enormous impact of centers across the IAC network.
Create new IACs at community colleges, trade schools, and union training programs to expand access to energy- and manufacturing-related career pathways while providing hands-on support to SMMs. Round 1 selections announced.

In addition, the BIL allocated $400 million for the Industrial Research and Assessment Center Implementation Grants Program.

To train the next generation of energy-savvy engineers and a highly skilled clean energy and manufacturing workforce that represents the diversity of America.

To provide in-depth assessments of small- and medium-sized manufacturer plant sites to evaluate the facilities, services, and manufacturing operations of the plant sites; to identify opportunities for optimizing energy efficiency and environmental performance, including implementation of—

Smart manufacturing
Energy management systems
Sustainable manufacturing
Information technology advancements for supply chain analysis, logistics, system monitoring, industrial and manufacturing processes, and other purposes
Waste management systems;

To promote applications of emerging concepts and technologies in small- and medium-sized manufacturers (including water and wastewater treatment facilities and federally owned manufacturing facilities); to promote research and development for the use of alternative energy sources to supply heat, power, and new feedstocks for energy-intensive industries; to coordinate with appropriate Federal and State research offices; to provide a clearinghouse for industrial process and energy efficiency technical assistance resources; and to coordinate with State-accredited technical training centers and community colleges, while ensuring appropriate services to all regions of the United States.

Open for applications - February 23, 2024 - MESC has announced a $24 million funding opportunity to train students and incumbent workers for high-quality careers in clean energy, energy efficiency, and advanced manufacturing that do not require a four-year degree, and help small and midsized manufacturers (SMMs) save money, reduce energy waste, and improve productivity. Please read the full announcement and how to apply: read the announcement.

Informational Webinar: A webinar will be held on March 5, 2024 at 3:00 pm Eastern Time (US & Canada). Register here!

Optional Concept Paper due 3/28/2024 at 3:00 PM ET

Full Application Submission Deadline: 5/16/2024 at 3:00 PM ET

Industrial Assessment Centers (IACs) are located across the United States. Each of the 37 centers and the five regional centers of excellence plays a pivotal role in the development of the workforce for the manufacturing sector, including training for facility-level energy efficiency improvements to increasing the productivity of processes and operations. The IAC Program is also expanding to create centers at community colleges, trade schools, and union training programs nationwide.