NYSERDA’s Building Operations and Maintenance Workforce Training Program aims to reduce energy use and associated carbon emissions while saving building operators and owners money by developing and strengthening the skills of operations and maintenance (O&M) staff and managers across the state. The program is designed to equip building O&M workers with the skills to operate increasingly energy-efficient, grid- flexible, and electrified building systems that reduce buildings’ contribution to climate change.

The goal is to support building owners, facility managers, property management companies, business associations/trade groups, and organized labor associations in creating the talent development strategy, corporate culture, on-site training framework, and tools needed to advance building O&M workers beyond classroom training.

While a training organization or trade association may be the applicant, it must partner with a specified entity or entities employing building O&M workers. Applications must be for training activities connected with specific buildings or portfolios/campuses of buildings named in the application. This can include partnerships of businesses with common training needs and skills gaps that have total annual energy expenditures of $1 million or more (all fuels and uses.) NYSERDA will support eligible projects by providing funding for programs and activities such as, but not limited to, creation of on-site training laboratories, curriculum development, in-person and virtual training, coaching/mentorships, and training trainers within an organization.

NYSERDA will provide funding of up to 90% with a cap of $500,000 per application when 75% or more of the buildings employing O&M workers are located in a Disadvantaged Community, or when the application is for a qualifying union-led project or qualifying pre-apprenticeship program. For all other applications, NYSERDA will provide funding of up to 70% with a cap of $500,000 per application. Additional funding of up to $500,000 may be awarded to successful projects after the original contract award if funding is available. The minimum funding request is $50,000. In all applications, the majority of the cost share must be provided by the employer(s) of building O&M workers. Examples of eligible cost share include the training provider/facility’s employees’ wages while working on tasks defined in the Statement of Work, the training provider/facility’s employees’ wages during training hours, equipment that will be used exclusively for training purposes, and training fees offset by a third party.

Additional information and materials from the Informational Webinar can be found on the PON 5357 Program Page.