Cooperative Agreement 84100101

This Cooperative Agreement, awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Program (CFDA 66.445), provides $914,500 in funding to the City of Baltimore's Department of Public Works. The agreement aims to accelerate career tracks in the water utilities sector and provide access to water utility workforce opportunities. Key activities include establishing regional industry and workforce development collaborations, coordinating candidate development in areas of high unemployment or with high retirement-eligible water utility employees, and providing specific training courses on environmental, safety, and health topics. Anticipated sub-awardees are the Maryland Center for Environmental Training, Baltimore Civic Fund, and Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, who will facilitate trainings, process participant payments, and support recruitment and awareness efforts, respectively. The project's expected outcomes include new partnerships to address water utility workforce needs and enhanced sustainable regional collaborations to support long-term water sector employment.