Sec. 7701. Innovative water infrastructure workforce development program
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The Administrator shall establish a competitive grant program to assist the development of innovative activities relating to workforce development in the water utility sector. In awarding grants under subsection (a), the Administrator shall, to the maximum extent practicable, select water utilities that— are geographically diverse; address the workforce and human resources needs of large and small public water and wastewater utilities; address the workforce and human resources needs of urban and rural public water and wastewater utilities; advance training relating to construction, utility operations, treatment and distribution, green infrastructure, customer service, maintenance, and engineering; and have a high retiring workforce rate; or are located in areas with a high unemployment rate.
Grants awarded under subsection
(a)may be used for activities such as— targeted internship, apprenticeship, preapprenticeship, and post-secondary bridge programs for mission-critical skilled trades, in collaboration with labor organizations, community colleges, and other training and education institutions that provide— on-the-job training; soft and hard skills development; test preparation for skilled trade apprenticeships; or other support services to facilitate post-secondary success; kindergarten through 12th grade and young adult education programs that— educate young people about the role of water and wastewater utilities in the communities of the young people; increase the career awareness and exposure of the young people to water utility careers through various work-based learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom; and connect young people to post-secondary career pathways related to water utilities; regional industry and workforce development collaborations to identify water utility employment needs, map existing career pathways, support the development of curricula, facilitate the sharing of resources, and coordinate candidate development, staff preparedness efforts, and activities that engage and support— water utilities employers; educational and training institutions; local community-based organizations; public workforce agencies; and other related stakeholders; integrated learning laboratories embedded in high schools or other secondary educational institutions that provide students with— hands-on, contextualized learning opportunities; dual enrollment credit for post-secondary education and training programs; and direct connection to industry employers; and leadership development, occupational training, mentoring, or cross-training programs that ensure that incumbent water and wastewater utilities workers are prepared for higher-level supervisory or management-level positions. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021.