The agreement provides funding to rural community assistance partnership (RCAP)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $1,000,000 Cooperative Agreement under the Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Program (CFDA 66.445) to the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP), a national non-profit organization. The funding will be used to accelerate career tracks in the water utilities sector and provide access to water utility workforce opportunities.

The key activities under this agreement include establishing leadership development, occupational training, mentoring, and cross-training programs to ensure incumbent drinking water and wastewater utility workers are prepared for higher level supervisory or management-level positions. RCAP will collaborate with sub-recipient partners to design certificate programs, develop curriculum and study guides, create test banks, and deliver six pilot training courses. These efforts are expected to increase the number of drinking water and wastewater utility workers receiving leadership training and mentoring, thereby expanding candidate development opportunities for management and supervisory positions. The program aims to benefit individual participants, utilities, and underserved communities.

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 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. Subrecipient:subrecipient activities will include contribution to design of the certificate program, including curriculum, and study guides as well as promotional activities to help recruit participants. In addition, subrecipients will participate in creation and management of the test bank, as well as reviewing curriculum materials and participating in the delivery of six pilot courses. They will promote leadership development, occupational training, mentoring, and/or cross-training programs to utilities and professionals in the field.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include an increased number of drinking water or wastewater utility workers receiving leadership training and mentoring. The expected outcomes include an increase in candidate development opportunities that formally qualify incumbents to be considered for management and supervisory positions. The intended beneficiaries include individuals who participate in the program, the general public, utilities, and underserved communities.