Putting federal dollars to good use

摘要

The water and wastewater sector always seeks new blood. But finding candidates who are trained properly, willing to learn to operate a water resource recovery facility or work in one of its labs can be a challenge. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering assistance in this endeavor. In May, EPA announced 18 environmental job training grants totaling $3.6 million. Several of the organizations and municipalities that received these grants will use the money to help ease trainees into water and wastewater fields. Specifically, these grants will "fund training programs in local nonprofit organizations, community colleges, cities, states, tribes, and counties that provide unemployed and underemployed, including veterans, minority, and predominately low-income individuals, with the comprehensive skills and certifications needed to enter full-time careers in the environmental field," accordina to an EPA news release. "The funding also supports job placement and recruitment activities."