Biden-Harris Administration Announces $7.7 Million to Further Expand America's Energy Workforce and Enhance Manufacturing Efficiency
Supported by the Investing in America Agenda, Two Additional Multi-Million Dollar Projects will Increase Workforce Training Opportunities and Help Small Businesses Save Money, Reduce Energy Waste
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) announced two additional projects selected to join the Industrial Training and Assessment Centers (ITAC) network. The ITAC network trains energy and manufacturing workers while helping small- and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) improve productivity and lower their energy bills. The two newly selected projects build on the $24 million in ITAC expansion projects that were announced in July 2024 and support high-quality job training while increasing SMMs’ access to advanced manufacturing technologies: trains energy and manufacturing workers while helping SMMs improve productivity and lower their energy bills.
The two newly selected projects are:
The Electrical Training ALLIANCE of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) (federal share: $5,700,000). The ALLIANCE will establish new ITACs at 8-12 Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committees across the country, with a focus on regions not yet served by the current network of ITACs. This cohort of ITACs will train hundreds of electricians in an energy-efficiency and industrial electrification curriculum, provide industrial electrification and efficiency audits to dozens of manufacturers, and partner with apprenticeship readiness programs to increase access to high-quality training and union job opportunities. |
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Columbia Gorge Community College (federal share: $1,997,794). Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC) will create an additive manufacturing (3D printing) training and workforce development hub for Northern Oregon. CGCC will develop a dedicated additive manufacturing training space, curriculum, and manufacturer assistance program that will promote sustainable manufacturing and environmental material efficiency to the area's SMMs and current and future manufacturing workers. |
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Over more than four decades, the ITAC program has provided more than 21,000 assessments at SMMs, which comprise more than 90% of the nation’s manufacturing entities. These new ITACs will expand the ITAC model to SMMs in more states and communities across the country, while training hundreds of students, apprentices, and incumbent manufacturing workers for quality careers that don’t a four-year college degree. Learn more about the full set of Expansion ITACs. |
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These awards will be managed by DOE’s Partnership Intermediary, ENERGYWERX, who helps reach and support applicants who may have limited experience with DOE funding opportunities. Selection for award negotiations is not a commitment by DOE to issue an award or provide funding. Before funding is issued, DOE, 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.
The ITAC Program is managed by the Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC).
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