Clean Water Current

(January 27, 2021) – EPA announced last week that it is now accepting applications for grants under its new Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant Program. Applications will be accepted until March 26, 2021.

Eligible applicants may apply for a grant between $200,000 and $500,000. These grants may be used to assist in the development and use of innovative activities relating to water workforce development and career opportunities in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector, or to expand public awareness about drinking water and wastewater utilities and to connect individuals to careers in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector.

NACWA and many of its utility members played an active role in helping establish and fund this new grant program to help further expand and diversify the water workforce.  This round of grant funding reflects a total of $1 million that was appropriated in the federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 budget.  An additional $3 million was just recently appropriated in the FY 2021 budget and those funds will be made available by EPA later this year.

If you have questions about the program, you can contact WaterWorkforceRFA@epa.gov. More information is also available on EPA’s website.