EPA Unveils Millions For Water Sector Workforce Training
Federal grant funding targets recruitment, apprenticeships and cybersecurity skills to address widespread utility worker retirements.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the availability of $10.8 million in grant funding aimed at strengthening recruitment and job training across the nation’s water utility sector.
The funding initiative targets critical labor shortages facing drinking water, wastewater and stormwater operations. Utilities nationwide are confronting a wave of pending retirements alongside an urgent need for specialized skillsets to handle aging infrastructure and rising cybersecurity risks.
Administered under the Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant program, the funding will foster partnerships among local, state and federal agencies, as well as educational institutions, labor unions and community groups.
The program prioritizes four main avenues for funding distribution:
- Apprenticeships and Internships: Hands-on trade programs designed for skilled positions within water utilities.
- Educational Outreach: Programs tailored to elementary, secondary and higher education institutions to build awareness of water careers.
- Regional Collaborations: Joint industry and workforce networks aimed at placing qualified job candidates into open roles.
- Decentralized System Training: Targeted education for decentralized and septic system workers who support public health in rural communities relying on private wells.
Eligible organizations seeking to establish or expand workforce development initiatives must submit their grant applications via grants.gov. The application deadline is Oct. 5, 2026.
About the Author
Jesse Jacobs is Assistant Editor of EPOnline.com.
