DOE to Support Manufacturing
By
Metal Center News Staff on
Jan 19, 2025
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers and the Association for Iron and Steel Technology were among six organizations invited to join a new joint effort sponsored by the Department of Energy’s Industrial Efficiency and Carbonization Office. The organizations will be part of the Industrial Sustainability, Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization Collaborative.
Through this $3.6 million initiative, the groups will develop and expand existing programs that support the American workforce, providing more pathways into the industrial sector, expanding energy efficiency practices and increasing the health and prosperity of Americans.
Currently, the industrial sector enables more than 21 million stable, well-paying jobs – supporting communities across America and contributing $4.8 trillion to the nation's economy. As the industrial sector evolves to keep pace with national and global markets, the demand for skilled workers is rising rapidly.
"Of the 4 million new manufacturing jobs needed by 2030, half risk going unfilled due to the increasing specialization and expertise that these new jobs will require," said Dr. Avi Shultz, director of IEDO. "The ISEED Collaborative strives to bridge this gap by providing workforce training and upskilling activities that prepare existing workers – and attract a diverse mix of new workers – to the industrial jobs of today and the future."
The six selected organizations span diverse areas of expertise, and each have key touchpoints for reaching existing and emerging members of the workforce. Over a two-year period, each organization will receive DOE funding, technical support and guidance to pilot and expand programs that can be scaled regionally or nationally.
Joining AIST and SME in the collaborative are Catalyst Connection, MSI STEM Research & Development Consortium, Cascade Energy LLC and CelSian Glass USA.