MRV Group Leads on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEJI) In Offshore Wind Launching Offshore Wind + Job Expos: Attentive Energy Becomes Title Sponsor in the New York Bight
Who: MRV Group Leads on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEJI) In Offshore Wind Launching Offshore Wind + Job Expos: Attentive Energy Becomes Title Sponsor in the New York Bight
What: Offshore Wind + Job Expos
When: April 2022
Where: New York/New Jersey
(Brownsville, NY) Offshore Wind + Job Expos, a community-corporate development network owned and operated by MRV Group LLC (MWBE/NMSDC) announced Attentive Energy as their 2022 Title sponsor for Offshore Wind + Job Expos (OSWJE). Through a year-round series of in-person and digital activations, OSWJE empowers underrepresented communities (i.e. minorities, women, veterans, justice-involved, and special needs) with equitable offshore wind workforce, supply chain, and community reinvestment opportunities.
Offshore Wind + Job Expos acts as a bridge for local communities and provides private businesses, government agencies, educational institutes, and non-profits a variety of solutions to support offshore wind workforce, business, and DEIJ efforts in those communities. The initiative leverages MRV Group’s network of national and local stakeholders to provide equitable offshore wind collaborations to power labor and economic impact across all communities.
“Offshore Wind + Job Expos activates communities to reach their quality of life aspirations, removes barriers, and creates bridges for all of our stakeholders. In addition, our efforts directly provide compliance for state energy policies such as New York's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), New Jersey’s Clean Energy Act, and Massachusetts Climate Law for example; all have transformational zero-emission and direct DEIJ outcomes for local residents and businesses. Our commitment with our network of partners is to drive equitable clean energy futures in New York, New Jersey, and across the U.S.,” said Glenn O.Vickers II, Managing Director and Founder of MRV Group (MWBE/NMSDC), supplier diversity and development firm.
OSWJE’s Title sponsor, Attentive Energy, was recently named a provisional winner of one of the six federal offshore wind leases in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s New York Bight auction. Prior to competing in the auction, Attentive Energy’s team led frequent and dedicated outreach in the New York Bight, engaging local communities for over three years. The successful bid now allows Attentive Energy to formalize its long-term presence in the region and focus on delivering a community-first approach as it works to develop an 84,332-acre lease area off the coasts of New York and New Jersey.
“Attentive Energy is proud to stand behind the launch of Offshore Wind + Job Expos and proliferate the opportunity to create a US offshore wind industry that prioritizes DEIJ from its inception,'' said Damian Bednarz, Managing Director Attentive Energy. “OSWJE is a foundational initiative to educate, train, and prepare our communities for the clean energy deployment ahead, galvanizing a diverse workforce and supply chain in the New York Bight.”
The launch of Offshore Wind + Job Expos this April will feature the following host partners:
Brownsville-based Central Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation (CBEDC): Commencing construction of the Glenmore Manor / B’Ville Entrepreneurial HUB. 233 units of affordable housing, commercial retail space, and community facility to support the development of future entrepreneurs and workforce in construction and clean energy.
Long Island-based MWBE business Spin The Yard: Launching an expansion of their operation called “Equity Wyandanch”. It will serve as a business incubator, supplier diversity product showroom, and workforce training center with a focus on justice-involved populations.
Newark-based MWBE transportation firm R&T Innovation Carriers, LLC: The firm will be activating public-private support to purchase 10 electric vehicles and charging stations to create a zero-emission shuttle system for Newark residents to support workforce access to work at Newark Airport and Newark Port.
New Jersey-based WBE workforce development firm Technoforce LLC Leading grassroots campaign to recruit youth and adults from disadvantaged communities in Southern New Jersey Counties into the offshore wind industry.
Newark-based WBE Marine Services Firm US Offshore Inc: Creating a matchmaking ecosystem to build supply chain opportunities for MWBE/SDVOB firms to participate in hybrid vessel technology services on the East Coast.
National organizations such as the U.S. Coalition of Black Women Businesses (USCBWB) and Business Network for Offshore Wind (BNOW) whose advocacy for offshore wind and small business continues daily. This includes the New Jersey/New York Meet The Buyer Day on Tue, April 26, from 8am - 4pm at the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel, NJ
Job seekers and offshore wind stakeholders are encouraged to attend any of the upcoming kick-off events to learn more about the industry::
Mon. April 11th | 8pm - 9pm Veteran/SDVOB OSW Coaching’ (virtual)
Tue. April 12th | 2pm - 6pm at Central Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation
Wed. April 13th | 8pm - 9pm Justice-Involved/Re-Entry OSW Coaching’ (virtual)
Thur. April 14th | 2pm - 8pm at Katch Astoria
Thur. April 28th | 10am - 3pm at Freeport Recreation Center
Mon. May 5th | 2pm - 6pm/Sat. May 14th | 12pm - 4pm at Equity Wyandanch @ Spin The Yard
Additional New Jersey and other locations nationally will be announced throughout the year.
Interested attendees and OSW related stakeholders can reach the organizers at the following contact information: www.offshorewindjobexpos.com
###
About Offshore Wind + Jobs Expo
Offshore Wind + Job Expos empower local residents, small businesses, and social equity populations (ie minorities, women, veterans, justice-involved, and special needs) to participate in the offshore wind industry through dynamic engagement with a network of public-private partner stakeholders in the areas of workforce development, business, and supply chain development, and community reinvestment.
About MRV Group
MRV Group LLC is a privately-owned diversity supplier and development firm. They provide commercial and industrial products and development services within the areas of government, construction, energy, transportation, healthcare, education, and manufacturing. MRV Group is a certified MWBE, NMSDC + HUD Section 3 partner firm. www.mrvgroup.org and www.mrvsupply.org
About Attentive Energy
Attentive Energy, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies Renewables USA, is delivering offshore wind opportunities to empower communities today and tomorrow. We are guided by deep experience in the offshore sector and a forward-thinking commitment to put people first, on and off the coast. With the power of offshore wind, we will strengthen our communities, forge a new industry, and build an inclusive clean energy economy. Attentive Energy is currently developing an 84,332-acre offshore wind lease area at least 36 miles off the coasts of New York and New Jersey. Visit www.attentiveenergy.com
####
