Today, Congressman Donald Norcross (D-NJ-01) hosted a press conference at Rowan University, celebrating the $500,000 in community project funding he secured for a new wind energy jobs training program at the school.

“South Jersey is on track to be the nation’s leader in offshore wind energy,” said Congressman Donald Norcross. “As we build the offshore wind farms that make our transition to clean energy possible, we must develop a highly skilled workforce to be fill clean energy jobs, not just in South Jersey but across the nation. That’s why I am proud to have fought for and secured this funding.”

“The workforce training program we have developed with our partners will have a far-reaching impact on the industry well beyond South Jersey. We will provide job pathways in partnership with Rowan College of South Jersey from pre-apprenticeship technicians to degreed engineers and scientists in related trades and science and technology fields. No one is offering this breadth of education in support of wind energy. Thanks to Congressman Norcross’ support, New Jersey will become the leader in wind energy jobs and training,” said Ali A. Houshmand, president of Rowan University.

The $500,000 in federal funding, which Congressman Norcross secured as part of the Funding for the People Act (H.R. 2471), supports a wind energy workforce training program, developing pathways from pre-apprenticeship to Ph.D. in related trades and science and technology fields. The program will be offered at an affordable cost through jointly developed four-year programs in shared facilities across the campuses as well as onsite experiential opportunities at the port with the industry partners.

Congressman Norcross has been a stalwart champion of South Jersey’s offshore wind industry, promoting it as a clean energy alternative to fossil fuels and touting the good-paying, local jobs it will create for local communities.