TRENTON, N.J. (September 28, 2023) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) today issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking insight from the maritime industry on its offshore wind workforce needs. The information gathered through this RFI will help NJEDA better understand the scope and characteristics of maritime workforce requirements. The RFI will also help shape new NJEDA programs and initiatives to support workforce development for occupations such as licensed captains, pilots, mates, crew, and all workers on a vessel operating at sea to install or maintain offshore wind energy components.
WHAT: The maritime workforce represents one of the highest gap occupations based on state-specific projected offshore wind employment needs. The NJEDA will use feedback from the RFI as it develops grants and other programs to bridge the workforce gap, expand maritime training across the state, and support offshore wind workforce initiatives to address the talent needs of offshore wind maritime operations.
WHO: The RFI seeks responses from all interested stakeholders in offshore wind maritime workforce development including, but not limited to: federal maritime agencies, maritime workforce groups, maritime labor unions, maritime training providers, offshore wind developers, U.S. Merchant Marine Academies, universities, community colleges and private entities that employ mariners.
Respondents do not need to be located within New Jersey to provide input.
WHEN: All questions must be submitted in writing no later than 5:00 p.m. on October 13, 2023, via e-mail to windinstitute@njeda.gov. The subject line of the e-mail should read: Questions-2023-RFI-187. Answers to questions submitted will be posted on the NJEDA’s website on or about October 20, 2023 at https://www.njeda.gov/bidding/#OET.
All RFI responses must be submitted in writing no later than 5:00 p.m. onOctober 30, 2023, via e-mail to windinstitute@njeda.gov. The subject line of the e-mail should state: RFI Response-2023-RFI-187.
To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses, call NJEDA Customer Care at 844-965-1125 or visit https://www.njeda.gov
