U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO) and Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs (IE) are soliciting applications from institutions of higher education (IHEs) through the Partnerships for Academic-Career Training (PACT) Initiative. Awards will establish regional consortia which must include at least one two-year IHE (e.g., vocational schools, trade schools, technical colleges, community colleges, Tribal colleges), at least two industry employers, and at least one workforce development entity. The prime applicant must be an IHE and must have signed documentation of commitment from each consortium partner.

Objective
The goal of the PACT initiative is to increase the number of highly skilled individuals entering the American energy workforce. During the application period, each consortium will choose between the two topic areas listed below:
Topic A - Enhance: applicants seeking resources to enhance their existing training program(s) or reorient them to focus on energy careers.
Topic B - Establish: applicants seeking resources to establish a new training program to focus on energy careers.
Training program participants will, upon completion, receive stackable credentials relevant to the applicant’s identified technology area.

Awarded projects for either topic will involve a two-phase approach:
Phase 1 - involves an initial planning period for the workforce consortium to design and plan a training program(s) which leads to energy jobs.
Phase 2 - involves executing the training programs designed in Phase 1.

Managing Unit: VPDoR