The Offshore Wind Business Development Grant supports Maryland’s emerging businesses, including minority owned emerging businesses looking to participate in the global offshore wind industry. MEA seeks to jumpstart Maryland’s offshore wind supply chain by providing grant funding to help offset upfront barrier costs in two key areas: market entry assistance and capital expenditures & facilities upgrades.

The Offshore Wind Workforce Development Grant Program will provide grant funding on a competitive basis to ensure Maryland has a ready and able workforce capable of contributing to the construction, installation, and operations & maintenance of an offshore wind energy project. The Program is open to businesses, including minority owned emerging businesses, non-profits, and State, local, and municipal governments and their agencies/institutions.

The EARN Maryland – Green Industry Grant provides support for qualified in-state organizations to implement Workforce Training Plans that meet employers’ workforce needs, advance the skills of Maryland workers, grow the State’s economy, and increase sustainable employment for working families. The Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation announced the Solicitation for Implementation Grant Proposals for the EARN Maryland initiative in June, after the initiative received an additional $4 million dollars for cyber and green training in FY18. EARN Maryland requires applicants to form Strategic Industry Partnerships, which is a group of collaborative industry members. Offshore wind is one of the Tier 1 renewable energy sources and the Green Industries Grant recognizes the need for a training program to produce skilled workers in offshore wind.