• In partnership with Farmingdale State College, Community Offshore Wind is creating pathways for minority and women-owned businesses to enter the offshore wind supply chain through the Foundation 2 Blade training program from the Business Network for Offshore Wind.
• Funding supports the build out of the region’s domestic offshore wind supply chain by providing industry education to ignite local economies and invest in the clean energy future.

FARMINGDALE, NY, Nov. 1, 2022

Community Offshore Wind is funding the first-ever Foundation 2 Blade offshore wind industry training at Farmingdale State College in Farmingdale, NY, for Minority and Women-Owned Businesses Enterprises (MWBE), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (SDVOB) and Small Business Enterprises (SBE). Through the company’s investment, qualifying businesses can enroll in the program for only $100 to learn the tools they need to capitalize on the expanding, Northeast U.S. offshore wind market. This provides a 96 percent savings on the training that would typically cost $2,500.

Community Offshore Wind is a joint venture between RWE Renewables and National Grid that is developing a lease area in the New York Bight, between Long Island and New Jersey, with a potential capacity of 3 gigawatts (GW) to power more than one million homes. Building a robust, domestic supply chain is just one of the many ways the organization is working to benefit communities in the Northeast. 

“We recognize the significant benefits that come from working with local suppliers. Our partnership with the Business Network to offer the Foundation 2 Blade offshore wind training is an example of how we’re helping remove financial barriers to entry,” said Doug Perkins, President and Project Director of Community Offshore Wind. “At Community Offshore Wind we’re committed to levelling the playing field. We have a responsibility to provide MWBE, SDVOB and SBE businesses equitable opportunities across design, manufacturing, installation, operation and maintenance to help advance the American offshore wind supply chain.” 

Graduates of Foundation 2 Blade will learn the phases of offshore wind project development, including the necessary component parts and operations of projects, to determine where their company best fits into the supply chain. Since launching in 2020, Foundation 2 Blade has graduated nearly 350 professionals from federal regulatory agencies, state government, offshore wind developers, Tier 1 suppliers, and other businesses critical to the offshore wind supply chain.

“The Business Network is thrilled to partner with Community Offshore Wind and Farmingdale State College to ensure New York benefits from offshore wind energy,” noted Ben Brown, Senior Director of Industry Training at the Business Network for Offshore Wind. “Foundation 2 Blade offers training resources, industry connections, and networking opportunities with industry experts to help businesses navigate where they fit in the supply chain. Participants will join a well-connected alumni network of graduates, that will further assist them in finding their place in the rapidly growing U.S. offshore wind industry.” 

“We are delighted to partner with Community Offshore Wind to bring the Foundation 2 Blade program to New York State and Long Island,” added Professor Marj Issapour, Associate Dean of Innovation and Economic Development in Sustainable Energy, Farmingdale State University. “Through the generous support of Community Offshore Wind, minority and women-owned businesses can access the offshore wind network. Building that supply chain, locally, will help serve the workforce needs of Long Island today and into the future.”

According to a Jaggaer-Tealbook survey, two-thirds of North American businesses polled said the biggest benefit to increasing supplier diversity has been positive reputational impacts, with more than 40 percent also saying there’s been increased supplier innovation and greater supply base competition. Companies have stepped up their efforts to work with more minority and women-owned businesses, with 53 percent of businesses saying supplier diversity is a high priority.

The Business Network for Offshore Wind Foundation 2 Blade industry training will be held from 
10 a.m. - 4 p.m., November 2-4, at the Long Island campus of Farmingdale State College.  

To learn more about how you can enter the offshore wind supply chain, MWBEs, SDVOBs and SBEs are encouraged to join the Business Network for Offshore Wind Foundation 2 Blade industry training. Space is limited. For more information and how to register, please contact the Renewable Energy & Sustainability Center at Farmingdale State College at RESCgreen@farmingdale.edu.

Community Offshore Wind
Virginia Limmiatis
Communications Manager
M. +1-315-396-5334
E. VirginiaL@communityoffshorewind.com

Community Offshore Wind, a joint venture between RWE and National Grid, will bring clean energy from offshore wind to the Northeast. We will develop offshore wind on the largest parcel in the New York Bight with the potential to host 3 gigawatts (GW) of capacity, which is enough to power over one million US homes and businesses. The project is expected to be in operation by the end of 2030. Community Offshore Wind is dedicated to investing in communities by bringing clean energy jobs to the region and growing the local economy. We will deliver sustainable energy safely, reliably and efficiently to the communities we serve. For more information, please visit communityoffshorewind.com.

The Business Network for Offshore Wind is the largest non-profit organization dedicated solely to building a robust offshore wind supply chain and expanding adoption of offshore wind energy. It advances the industry through collaboration, education, and innovation, including the International Offshore Wind Partnering Forum (IPF), the leading offshore wind conference in North America, and the OSW Market Dashboard. Learn more at offshorewindus.org.

As the largest of SUNY’s colleges of technology (10,000+ students), Farmingdale State College equips students with the resources and knowledge sought by today’s emerging industries. Offering both bachelor and associate degrees, FSC introduced its first Master’s degree - Technology Management - in 2017. At FSC, students learn in small, personalized classes and have abundant opportunities for applied learning—internships, clinical training, and guided research—that provide practical instruction and personal growth. 

The mission of Farmingdale State College is to deliver exceptional academic and applied learning outcomes through scholarship, research, and student engagement for Long Island and beyond. The College’s commitment to student-centered learning and inclusiveness prepares graduates to be exemplary citizens equipped to excel in a competitive, diverse, and technologically dynamic society. For more information, go to farmingdale.edu.