State’s Department of Labor partners with the Oceantic Network to help local companies learn how to successfully expand into growing offshore wind industry.
Media Contact: Melinda Skea | [email protected] | 202-709-9793
Baltimore – The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training’s Real Jobs Rhode Island is partnering with the Oceantic Network to provide a virtual learning course at no cost to Rhode Island-based businesses interested in expanding into the offshore wind industry. The Department sponsoring a one-time offering of the Network’s Foundation 2 Blade training program to ensure local businesses have the tools and information they need to capitalize on the expanding market – one of the fastest growing renewable energies in the U.S. and globally.
The State of Rhode Island, home to the U.S.’s first offshore wind project off Block Island, recently announced a new offshore wind project 14 times larger. This new project, along with other anticipated projects, is already attracting over $100 million in local investment. Real Jobs Rhode Island wants to ensure local businesses have the tools and information they need to capitalize on this expanding global market.
“Offshore wind energy has grown substantially over the last four years and is expected to swell under Governor Raimondo’s renewable energy-focused vision,” says Liz Burdock, president and CEO of the Oceantic Network. “The Network created the Foundation 2 Blade training program to help companies and entrepreneurial individuals take advantage of the economic, job-creating benefits the offshore wind industry has to offer – it’s only going to get bigger and a local supply chain is essential to that growth.”
Foundation 2 Blade is an extensive training program created to help companies identify where they fit into the growing offshore wind supply chain and creating more opportunities to capitalize on prospective leads. F2B’s training course features six modules that demystify the supply chain, spur innovation, and present a market entry path for a company. The six modules are: Offshore Wind Overview, Offshore Wind Siting & Permitting, Construction & Installation, Operations & Maintenance, and How to Get Involved. Graduates of the course will have an understanding of the different phases of project development, operational knowledge, and a vocabulary of the various component parts.
The F2B Real Jobs Rhode Island-sponsored classes will take place virtually December 9, 11, and 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EST. To waive the $2,500 registration fee, registrants should use the code DLTRI at check-out. Attendees will receive 12 hours of instruction, a F2B training manual, PDF classroom handouts, and access to supplemental educational videos. The course content and lectures are free for Rhode Island-based businesses.
“Rhode Island is the genesis of offshore wind in the U.S. and we are excited to partner with the Oceantic Network to support more local companies benefiting from the growing offshore wind energy industry,” says Laura Hastings, deputy program director of Real Jobs Rhode Island.
For more information or to arrange an interview with a Network spokesperson, contact Melinda Skea at [email protected] or 410-779-1362.
Additional Information:
About the Oceantic Network:
The Oceantic Network is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a robust offshore wind supply chain in the U.S. It advances the industry forward through education, facilitating partnerships, and events, including the International Partnering Forum, the largest offshore wind conference in America. Learn more at oceantic.org.
