This project provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58) for workforce alliance of south central kansas to conduct eligible technical assistance-related…

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 awarded a $499,735 Cooperative Agreement to The Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas Inc. under the Brownfields Job Training Cooperative Agreements program (CFDA 66.815) effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2029. Funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), this agreement supports workforce development and job placement services for unemployed and underemployed residents of Sedgwick County, Kansas in environmental remediation careers.

The primary deliverables include recruitment, training, and placement of 90 participants, with a target of placing at least 75 in environmental jobs. The program provides 286 hours of comprehensive instructional training encompassing industry-recognized certifications in Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) 40-hour and refresher courses, asbestos training, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 30-hour instruction, commercial driver's license (CDL) Class A or B certification, Department of Transportation hazardous materials transportation training, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste management training. Training components emphasize green remediation technologies, stormwater management, emergency planning, and chemical safety to prepare participants for full-time employment in hazardous waste site remediation and environmental cleanup operations.

This project provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58) for workforce alliance of south central kansas to conduct eligible technical assistance-related activities as authorized by comprehensive environmental response, compensation, and liability act (cercla) 104(k)(7). The recipient will recruit, train, and place unemployed and underemployed residents of sedgwick county, kansas in environmental careers with skills needed to safely conduct remediation work at solid and hazardous waste-contaminated sites, as well as appropriate training in green remediation technologies, stormwater management, emergency planning and chemical safety; asbestos training, class a or class b commercial driver's license(CDL), department of transportation - hazardous materials transportation training, department of transportation - refresher, hazardous waste operations and emergency response (40 hour), hazardous waste operations and emergency response annual refresher, occupational safety and health administration 30 hour, occupational health and safety for general industry, resource conservation and recovery act hazardous waste management (kansas regs), resource conservation and recovery act refresher. The workforce alliance of south central kansas plans to train 90 participants and place at least 75 in environmental jobs. The training program includes 286 hours of instructional training. Activities:this project will train graduates to earn skills and certifications necessary to enter into environmental careers. Activities to be performed under this project are industry certifications for asbestos training, hazwoper 40, hazwoper refresher, occupational health and safety for general industry, and resource conservation and recovery act hazardous waste management refresher, as well as state certifications for commercial driver's license class a or class b, department of transportation - hazardous materials transportation training, resource conservation and recovery act hazardous waste management (kansas regs). Also, the recipient will report on interim progress and final accomplishments by completing and submitting relevant portions of the property profile form using EPA's assessment, cleanup and redevelopment exchange system (acres). This project will provide training to residents in sedgwick county, specifically in 45 census tracts identified in the workplan.subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:this project will provide training to unemployed and underemployed residents of sedgwick county, KS. The anticipated deliverables are: 130-180 individuals recruited, 90 trained, 80 certified, and 75 placed in environmental careers in communities impacted by solid and hazardous waste sites and facilities. Up to 90 classroom style trainings, 9 practical trainings, and 9 curricula modules. 9 appropriate certifications in environmental sampling and site cleanup methods. 80 individuals that receive certifications in occupational safety and health administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910.120 40-hour hazwoper training. Expected outcomes from this project include: -help residents of communities take advantage of jobs created by the assessment and cleanup of brownfields and the assessment, cleanup, and management of solid and hazardous waste sites and facilities while addressing sustainable community revitalization concerns. -provide training that leads to sustainable employment in the environmental field. -improve community involvement and stimulate the development of constructive partnerships. -reduce exposures to hazardous substances and other contaminants and improve the health of workers, occupants, and residents. -foster self-sufficiency and enhance the skills and availability of labor for environmental remediation in particularly impacted communities, including those that are impacted by a variety of waste facilities, blighted propert