The trustees of the Ocean Wind Pro-NJ Grantor Trust on Wednesday announced the recipients of the first round of grant funding for small, women-owned and minority-owned businesses.
Following a comprehensive review period led by the trustees and the members of Advisory Committee, the trust is awarding grants totaling nearly $450,000 to six small, women-owned and minority-owned businesses in New Jersey to help them retool or reconfigure their businesses to participate in the emerging offshore wind industry.
“New Jersey has established itself as a leader in offshore wind and, based on the innovative project ideas put forth in this first round of applications, small, women-owned and minority-owned businesses in the Garden State are primed to enter this emerging industry and take advantage of the opportunity to participate in the local supply chain,” said Beverly McCall, chairperson of the Pro-NJ Grantor Trust. “Thank you to all who applied and congratulations to our inaugural round of recipients.”
The $15 million fund was established by Ocean Wind 1 following its selection by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities in June 2019, to develop an offshore wind farm 15 miles off the southern New Jersey coast.
The list of grant recipients and the funded projects are as follows:
Keller Engineers of New Jersey LLC; FCC Consulting Services LLC; Global One Partners;
C&C Supply Company; Robinson Aerial Surveys Inc.; and Technoforce LLC.
“At Ørsted, we know that suppliers with local expertise are vital to our success. It’s exciting to see these New Jersey-based businesses have the opportunity to enter the offshore wind industry in its infancy and potentially support projects like Ocean Wind 1. We look forward to seeing them grow and thrive as the industry matures,” said Maddy Urbish, head of government affairs and policy, New Jersey, for Ørsted.
“New Jersey’s role in the developing offshore wind industry is growing and PSEG understands the significance of ensuring that the diverse and talented businesses of the state have an opportunity to participate and flourish in what will be a vast supply chain and ecosystem,” PSEG Vice President for Offshore Wind Lathrop Craig said. “We’re thrilled to see the Pro-NJ Grantor Trust open the door to additional opportunities in the new and expanding offshore wind industry.”
