The agreement provides funding to wichita state university

This Cooperative Agreement, awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water under the Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Program (CFDA 66.445), provides $414,250 in funding to Wichita State University (WSU) to accelerate career tracks in the water utilities sector and provide access to water utility workforce opportunities.

The key activities under this award include establishing education programs designed for elementary, secondary, and higher education students, as well as developing an internship program at local municipal water/wastewater utilities. The anticipated deliverables include an innovative program or strategy in a secondary educational institution to recruit diverse populations to the water utility sector workforce, with the goal of increasing the number of students entering the utility workforce or post-secondary training/education programs that support the water and wastewater utility workforce. Sub-awards to the University of New Mexico ($250,447) and Syracuse University ($500,445) will support project development, partnership building, implementation, and internship program coordination.

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:subrecipients will support project development, partnership building, implementation, and delivery tasks. These entities will develop an internship program at their organization with the understanding that they will keep IT functional past the grant period. Funds provided by this grant will be used to fund high school interns who work at local municipal water/ wastewater utilities.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.