Grand Rapids Community College receive Environmental Protection Agency grant for workforce development in water sector

Grand Rapids Community College has received a $1 million Innovative Water Workforce Development Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. The school will use the grant funding to raise awareness in the community of the jobs that are available in the water utilities sector as well as help to provide training and assistance to individuals within the community who plan to seek a career in the field.

According to an article on Grand Rapids Community College’s website, Charles W. Lepper, Ph.D., the president of the school, shared that this is the second such grant the school has received. He also explained the plans for the funding, saying, “This is the second grant the EPA has awarded Grand Rapids Community College as we continue to address the growing demand for skilled professionals in the water sector. This funding will not only enhance our training programs and build critical partnerships but also enable us to scale our efforts beyond the City of Grand Rapids to our neighboring communities. By regionalizing our initiatives, we aim to equip more students with the knowledge and skills needed for rewarding careers in water utilities. We are excited to collaborate with local organizations and government entities to create pathways for success and make a meaningful impact on our region's future.”

The funding will help Grand Rapids Community College bring awareness to the employment needs of the water utility sector, which includes wastewater management and working with drinking water, by creating partnerships with community organizations and providing training for those who wish to begin looking into a career. Grand Rapids Community College will focus its efforts in this respect on people from underrepresented communities.

The EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott attended an event at Grand Rapids Community College to celebrate the grant funding. He shared his thoughts, saying, “Water utility operators play a critical role in supporting their communities by ensuring that drinking water is safe, and that wastewater is safely managed. I’m thrilled to celebrate this $1 million investment from the Biden-Harris Administration that will help recruit and train the next generation of the water workforce here in Michigan. It is a pleasure to visit Grand Rapids Community College and meet the program’s interns who are training for rewarding and good-paying careers in the water sector.”

For more information about Grand Rapids Community College, visit the school’s website.