Funding Opportunity: Workforce Development for the Energy Transition
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Gulf Research Program aims to contribute to the development of a prepared workforce and to increase the scientific literacy of the Gulf States residents who will become the skilled leaders and professionals of tomorrow. This funding opportunity will enable project participants to acquire skills, knowledge, and credentials to enter careers as part of the future energy workforce.
Applications open
Until April 8, 2026 5:00 PM
Key dates
Key Dates
• January 14, 2026: Online application submission opens
• February 11, 2026: Funding Opportunity Question and Answer Session
• April 7, 2026: Submission Help Office Hours
• April 8, 2026: Deadline for submissions of applications due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time
• July 2026: Award selection and notification
• September 1, 2026: Anticipated funding start date
• Online submission website: https://gulfresearchprogram.smapply.io/
Award details
The 2026 cycle of this funding opportunity will enable project participants to acquire skills, knowledge, and credentials to enter careers involved in the decommissioning of orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells.
Specifically, the GRP is seeking applications for sustainable, data-driven, industry-engaged projects that will provide education and training opportunities for participants without a bachelor’s degree and ready those participants to become part of the orphaned and abandoned well-decommissioning workforce. Preference will be given to projects that provide competencies for decommissioning wells in an offshore environment. The applicants should demonstrate how they will partner with local employers and industry associations to use data and evidence to identify skill gaps and labor market needs, design relevant curricula and credentials, and provide education, training, job placement, and/or retention services to participants that will enable those participants to acquire the skills and credentials necessary to join the orphaned and abandoned well-decommissioning workforce. This funding opportunity is open to applicants from educational institutions, non-profit organizations, state and local governments, and tribal entities working in the U.S. Gulf States (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and/or Florida).
A total of $2.25M is available for this funding opportunity, with the number of applications being funded dependent on the quality and quantity of applications. Applicants must request between $100,000 and $750,000 for projects, commensurate with the scope of work, that are between 1 and 3 years in duration.
Application
Application Process
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