The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is soliciting applications for its Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant Program.
Donor Name: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/17/2023
Size of the Grant: $5,000,000- $10,000,000
Grant Duration: 3 years
Details:
EPA seeks to assist in the development and utilization of innovative activities relating to workforce development and career opportunities in the water utility sector, which may include:
- expanding the use and availability of activities and resources that relate to the recruitment, including the promotion of diversity within that recruitment, of individuals to careers in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector, including stormwater;
- expanding the availability of training opportunities for (i) individuals entering the water and wastewater utility sector; and (ii) individuals seeking to advance careers within the water and wastewater utility sector;
- expanding the use and availability of activities and strategies, including the development of innovative activities and strategies, that relate to the maintenance and retention of a sustainable workforce in the water and wastewater utility sector; and
- expanding the availability of workforce development and training that enables drinking water and wastewater utility workers to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other air pollutants to benefit disadvantaged communities.
Project Areas
- Project Area 1: Targeted internship, apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and postsecondary bridge programs for skilled water utility trades.
- Project Area 2: Education programs designed for elementary, secondary, and higher education students.
- Project Area 3: Regional industry and workforce development collaborations to address water utility employment needs and coordinate candidate development, particularly in areas of high unemployment or for water utilities with a high proportion of retirement eligible employees.
- Project Area 4: Leadership development, occupational training, mentoring, or cross-training programs that ensure incumbent drinking water and wastewater utility workers are prepared for higher level supervisory or management-level positions.
- Project Area 5: Education and training programs, including internship or apprenticeship programs, designed for decentralized water workers (i.e., private well and/or septic system service professionals) to support public health outcomes for communities that rely on private wells for drinking water or decentralized systems for adequate treatment and disposal of wastewater.
- Project Area 6: Leadership development, occupational training, mentoring, workforce development and/or cross-training programs that enable drinking water and wastewater utility workers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants to benefit disadvantaged communities.
Funding Information
- Project Area 1: Targeted3 internships, apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, & postsecondary bridge programs
- Funding Range: $1,500,000- $6,800,000
- Project Area 2: Education programas designed for elementary, secondary & higher education students
- $250,000 – $1,000,000
- Project Area 3: Regional industry and workforce development collaborations
- $2500,000 – $1,000,000
- Project Area 4: Leadership development, occupational training, mentoring, or cross-training programs
- $250,000 – $1,000,000
- Project Area 5: Education and training programs, including internship or apprenticeship programs, designed for decentralized water workers
- $250,000 – $1,000,000
- Project Area 6: Leadership development, occupational training, mentoring, workforce development and/or cross training programs that enable drinking water and wastewater utility workers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants to benefit disadvantaged communities
- $5,000,000- $10,000,000
Project Period
Cooperative agreements funded under this announcement will have a project period of up to three years.
Eligibility Criteria
- Consistent with Assistance Listing, eligible applicants for Project Areas 1-5 under this RFA 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 that are not exempt from taxation under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code must submit other forms of documentation of nonprofit status, such as certificates of incorporation as a nonprofit under state or tribal law. Nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that lobby are not eligible for EPA funding as provided in the Lobbying Disclosure Act, . For-profit organizations and individuals are not eligible to apply. EPA may ask applicants to demonstrate that they are eligible for funding under this announcement.
- Consistent with Assistance Listing eligible applicants for Project Area 6 are a: 1) community-based nonprofit organizations (CBO); 2) a partnership of CBOs; or 3) a partnership between a CBO and Federally recognized Indian Tribe, local government or institution of higher education.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
