Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Program (SDWA 1459E)

To inform the public about the role of water and wastewater systems in their communities, increase awareness of career opportunities in the water utility sector, and provide exposure to water utility careers through various work-based opportunities. Funding priorities include, but are not limited to: (1) increasing awareness of career opportunities, and providing exposure to water utilities to address the workforce needs of water utilities; and (2) providing hands-on contextualized learning opportunities to assist the development and utilization of innovative activities relating to workforce development and career opportunities in the water utility sector.

Eligible applicants are nonprofit professional or service organizations, nonprofit labor organizations, nonprofit community colleges, institutions of higher education, other nonprofit training and educational institutions, or public works departments and agencies. Nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities as defined in Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 are not eligible to apply. For-profit organizations and individuals are not eligible to apply. The EPA may ask applicants to demonstrate that they are eligible for funding. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency�s Assistance Agreement Competition Policy.

Fiscal year 2025: Developed a regional water and wastewater workforce collaborative to address regional workforce needs. Provide training and a clear career path for future water and wastewater operators in secondary education/career tech, through community college, and on to possible apprenticeships, internships, or bachelor�s degree programs. Recruited future operators through targeted and innovative approaches (both in-person and virtual, such as job fairs, billboards, live streaming, social media, and push notifications). Placed qualified program participants into internships and operator in training positions with local utilities. Created a network of career and guidance counselors will be supported by a toolkit of resources to employ when encouraging students to explore careers in water and wastewater treatment. The toolkit will inform career and guidance counselors of the needs and requirements for water utility positions, assist them in sharing information with students, and connect them with local utilities that may be seeking interns or be willing to engage in additional education opportunities for students such as treatment facility tours, job shadowing, or focused...