Maritime and Energy Workforce Technical Training Enhancement Act

Maritime and Energy Workforce Technical Training Enhancement Act

This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to award grants to enable eligible community colleges and other public institutions of higher education to expand upon existing programs in maritime and energy workforce technical training, including by admitting more students, training faculty, expanding facilities, creating new maritime career pathways from associate degree to baccalaureate degree programs, and awarding credit for prior learning experience, or increasing cooperation with specified federal departments or the National Science Foundation. DOE shall give priority to institutions that have entered into a partnership with one of such departments.

DOE may also award a grant to a nonprofit organization with a track record of at least 10 years of expertise in working with community colleges on developing workforce development programs, to provide assistance in carrying out this Act.

Recipients shall use grant amounts for:

• training related to maritime or energy transportation, logistics, and supply chain management or to shipbuilding and ship repair;
• enhancement of academic and workforce training programs for maritime and energy employment;
• salary supplementation for faculty in maritime or energy training and education;
• operation and maintenance of maritime or energy related equipment and technology for use in instructional programs;
• acquisition of marine vessels and other assets and equipment for use in maritime or energy related training and education;
• renovation or construction of buildings to house maritime or energy training and education programs; and
• tuition reimbursement for successful completion of a maritime or energy course, program, or certification.
  

The bill defines an "eligible institution" as a community college or other public postsecondary educational institution located in close proximity to marine or port facilities in the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, or Great Lakes that offers a maritime training and education program and that has an established association with a port authority and appropriate government agencies.

DOE shall award a grant to to enable up to 10 eligible institutions to: (1) establish Centers of Excellence in Maritime and Energy Workforce Technical Training; and (2) improve and expand maritime and energy workforce training opportunities for veterans, members of the Armed Forces, federal employees, and civilians by implementing new programs in specified training areas, including port related transportation systems and job placement in maritime and energy related employment fields.