FOA-Limited Submission – EPA – Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant Program (EPA-OW-OWM-20-01); March 16, 2021

 

Purpose:  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting applications from eligible applicants to (1) assist in the development and use of innovative activities relating to water workforce development and career opportunities in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector, and (2) expand public awareness about drinking water and wastewater utilities and to connect individuals to careers in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector. Applicants must address one, and only one, of the five Project Areasthat are the primary focus of the application. Important components of the project are effective partnerships and a plan for active transfer of project results, methods and/or effective strategies to stakeholders.

 

Project Area 1: Targeted internship, apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and post-secondary bridge programs for skilled water utility trades - applications to expand public awareness about job opportunities in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector, and address the workforce needs of drinking water and wastewater utilities.

 

Project Area 2: Education programs designed for elementary, secondary, and higher education students - applications to expand student awareness about the job opportunities in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector and to address the workforce needs of drinking water and wastewater utilities by developing education programs designed for elementary, secondary, and higher education students and provide training opportunities for secondary and higher education students.

 

Project Area 3: Regional industry and workforce development collaborations to address water utility employment needs and coordinate candidate development, particularly in areas of high unemployment or for water utilities with a high proportion of retirement eligible employees -  applications to expand public awareness about job opportunities in the water sector and address the workforce needs of utilities by establishing regional industry and workforce development collaborations that will address drinking water and wastewater utility recruitment and retention issues.

 

Project Area 4: Integrated learning laboratories in secondary educational institutions - applications to expand student awareness about the job opportunities in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector and address the workforce needs of water utilities via integrated learning laboratories in secondary educational institutions.

 

Project Area 5: 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 - applications to expand public awareness about the job opportunities in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector, and address the workforce needs of water utilities through leadership development, occupational training, mentoring, or cross-training programs that prepares incumbent drinking water and wastewater utility workers for supervisory or management-level positions.

 

Funding Amount/Project Period: from $200,000 up to$500,000 per project for up to 3 years

 

Link to Funding Opportunity Announcement

 

Institutional Limit: 1 

 

Internal Competition: To participate in the university’s selection process,please upload the following,assembled into a single PDF file, to the Office of the Vice President for Research via this portal with a copy to your Associate Dean for Research by February 16, 2021:

·        Names and departments or affiliations of the Project Director and other key personnel or partners;

·        Title of program and/or funding opportunity announcement number;

·        Identification of Project Area addressed;

·        Brief project description, including indication of the project area (2 pages maximum);

·        Brief biographical sketch

 

A committee will be convened to review the material and make a recommendation. For questions or issues with submission through the portal, email the limited submission mailbox (limitedsubmissions@uky.edu), or call 257-2861.

 

Agency Deadline:  March 26, 2021