The agreement provides funding to the university of new mexico

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded a $600,000 Cooperative Agreement to the University of New Mexico (UNM) under the Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Program (CFDA 66.445). The agreement aims to accelerate career tracks in the water utilities sector and provide access to water utility workforce opportunities. Key activities include establishing education programs for elementary, secondary, and higher education students, as well as developing a Water Science Communication Regional Training Network at 5 participating universities. The anticipated deliverables include an innovative program to recruit diverse populations to the water utility workforce, with the expected outcome of increasing the number of students entering the utility workforce or post-secondary programs supporting the water and wastewater utility sectors. The University of New Mexico is collaborating with Morgan State University and Wichita State University on this initiative, which began on October 1, 2024 and is scheduled for completion by September 30, 2027.

Specifically, the recipient will accelerate career tracks in the water utilities sector and provide access to water utility workforce opportunities. Activities:the activities include establishing education programs designed for elementary, secondary, and higher education students.subrecipient:the recipient's subawardees will develop a water science communication regional training network (water scicomm regional network) for undergraduates at 5 participating universities - UNM, WSU, SU, MSU, and ASU. The network will train cohorts of undergraduate students on regional climate change impacts on the natural environment, community perspectives towards natural and built environments, careers in the water sector and regional water infrastructure challenges and adaptations for climate change.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include development of an innovative program or strategy in a secondary educational institution to recruit diverse populations to the water utility sector workforce. The expected outcomes include an increased number of students entering the utility workforce or entering post-secondary training or education programs that support the water and wastewater utility workforce. The intended beneficiaries include individuals who participate in the program, the general public, utilities, and underserved communities.