Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA OW OWM 26 03
Apply for EPA OW OWM 26 03
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.445.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-08-19.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-10-05. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $7,800,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding opportunity designed to strengthen and expand the workforce that operates and maintains the nations drinking water and wastewater utilities. Authorized under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) section 1459E, the program is focused on accelerating career pipelines into water-sector jobs while also increasing public understanding of what water and wastewater utilities do for communities. The core idea is straightforward: a strong, well-trained water workforce is essential for protecting public health, keeping water services reliable, and supporting environmental protection, so the EPA is investing in programs that bring more people into these careers and help them succeed once they are in.
This opportunity is discretionary and will be awarded through cooperative agreements, which typically means the EPA expects an active partnership with recipients as projects are carried out, rather than a hands-off grant relationship. The funding is aligned with broader federal priorities, including the Administrations public health goals and EPA priorities under the Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative, specifically Pillar 1: Clean Air, Land, and Water for Every American. In practical terms, the EPA is looking for proposals that can clearly show how they will produce real workforce outcomes that benefit water systems and the communities they serve, not just general outreach or planning activities.
Eligible applicants include Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), nonprofit organizations, and public works departments and agencies. The emphasis on these applicant types reflects the reality that workforce development in the water sector often depends on partnerships: colleges and technical programs can provide instruction and credentials, nonprofits can recruit and support participants, and public works agencies or utilities can provide hands-on training environments and direct pathways into employment. Projects are expected to be built around measurable results, meaning applicants should be able to demonstrate outputs and outcomes such as numbers of people trained, credentials earned, apprenticeships completed, job placements, or strengthened regional hiring and training systems.
The EPA highlights several types of eligible activities. These include apprenticeship and internship programs that move participants into real water-sector roles, including structured on-the-job learning that leads to employment. The program also supports education initiatives aimed at elementary, secondary, and higher education students, which can introduce young people to water careers earlier and build a longer-term pipeline of future operators, technicians, engineers, lab staff, and related professionals. Another eligible area is regional industry collaboration, where multiple partners such as utilities, community colleges, technical schools, and workforce organizations coordinate to address shared hiring needs, standardize training, and create smoother pathways from training into employment. The opportunity also supports training approaches suited to decentralized workforces, which is especially relevant for rural areas or smaller systems where staff may be spread out and access to centralized training is limited.
Examples provided in the announcement illustrate the kinds of outcomes the EPA wants to see. A competitive proposal might train individuals through an apprenticeship program and then place graduates into water sector jobs, reducing vacancies and improving system capacity. Another strong approach could be training participants to achieve industry-recognized accreditation or certification, strengthening both employability and utility compliance capability. The EPA also points to collaborative models that connect community colleges, technical schools, and utilities so training matches real-world utility workforce needs, helping ensure that curricula, hands-on experiences, and credentialing align with the positions utilities are actually trying to fill.
Key administrative details include the opportunity title, Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant, and the funding opportunity number EPA OW OWM 26 03. The assistance listing is CFDA 66.445, with the activity category centered on education. The original application deadline is October 5, 2026, and the opportunity was created on August 19, 2026. The EPA anticipates making around 15 awards, with an award ceiling of $7,800,000. Applicants should rely on Section 2 of the full announcement for the complete eligibility rules and any additional requirements, since those sections typically spell out specific conditions, documentation expectations, partnership requirements, and evaluation criteria that can determine whether an application is considered complete and competitive.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant?
The Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding opportunity designed to strengthen and expand the workforce that operates and maintains the nation's drinking water and wastewater utilities.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The program is focused on accelerating career pipelines into water-sector jobs and increasing public understanding of what drinking water and wastewater utilities do for communities. The EPA is investing in programs that bring more people into these careers and help them succeed once they are in.
What law authorizes this grant program?
This opportunity is authorized under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), section 1459E.
Why is the EPA investing in water workforce development?
The core premise is that a strong, well-trained water workforce is essential for protecting public health, keeping water services reliable, and supporting environmental protection. The EPA is seeking proposals that produce real workforce outcomes that benefit water systems and the communities they serve.
What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This opportunity is discretionary and will be awarded through cooperative agreements. This typically means the EPA expects an active partnership with recipients during project implementation, rather than a hands-off grant relationship.
How is this opportunity aligned with federal priorities?
The funding is aligned with broader federal priorities, including the Administration's public health goals and EPA priorities under the Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative, specifically Pillar 1: Clean Air, Land, and Water for Every American.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), nonprofit organizations, and public works departments and agencies.
Why are these applicant types emphasized?
The opportunity emphasizes IHEs, nonprofits, and public works agencies because water workforce development often depends on partnerships. Colleges and technical programs can provide instruction and credentials, nonprofits can recruit and support participants, and public works agencies/utilities can provide hands-on training environments and direct pathways into employment.
What kinds of results is the EPA looking for?
Projects are expected to be built around measurable results. Examples of outputs and outcomes mentioned include numbers of people trained, credentials earned, apprenticeships completed, job placements, and strengthened regional hiring and training systems.
What types of activities are eligible under this opportunity?
The EPA highlights several eligible activity types, including:
- Apprenticeship and internship programs that move participants into real water-sector roles, including structured on-the-job learning that leads to employment
- Education initiatives for elementary, secondary, and higher education students to introduce water careers earlier and build longer-term career pipelines
- Regional industry collaboration among utilities, community colleges, technical schools, and workforce organizations to address shared hiring needs, standardize training, and improve pathways from training to employment
- Training approaches suited to decentralized workforces, especially for rural areas or smaller systems where staff may be spread out and access to centralized training is limited
Does the program support apprenticeships and internships?
Yes. Apprenticeship and internship programs are specifically identified as eligible activities, including structured on-the-job learning that leads to employment in the water sector.
Does the program support K-12 or student-focused career awareness efforts?
Yes. The announcement notes support for education initiatives aimed at elementary, secondary, and higher education students to introduce young people to water careers earlier and strengthen long-term workforce pipelines.
Does the program encourage regional or multi-partner collaboration?
Yes. The EPA explicitly includes regional industry collaboration as an eligible activity, where multiple partners coordinate to address shared hiring needs, standardize training, and create smoother pathways into employment.
Are rural or decentralized training approaches supported?
Yes. The EPA notes support for training approaches suited to decentralized workforces, which is particularly relevant for rural areas or smaller systems where staff may be geographically dispersed.
What examples of competitive outcomes does the EPA mention?
Examples in the announcement include training individuals through an apprenticeship program and placing graduates into water-sector jobs to reduce vacancies and improve system capacity, training participants to achieve industry-recognized accreditation or certification, and building collaborative models linking community colleges, technical schools, and utilities so training aligns with real utility workforce needs.
What is the funding opportunity title?
The opportunity title is Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is EPA OW OWM 26 03.
What is the assistance listing (CFDA) number?
The assistance listing is CFDA 66.445.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is centered on education.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on August 19, 2026.
What is the application deadline?
The original application deadline is October 5, 2026.
How many awards does the EPA anticipate making?
The EPA anticipates making around 15 awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $7,800,000.
Where should applicants look for complete eligibility rules and additional requirements?
Applicants should rely on Section 2 of the full announcement for complete eligibility rules and any additional requirements. That section typically includes specific conditions, documentation expectations, partnership requirements, and evaluation criteria that may affect whether an application is considered complete and competitive.
Is this opportunity primarily for planning and outreach, or for workforce outcomes?
The EPA is looking for proposals that clearly show real workforce outcomes that benefit water systems and communities, rather than proposals limited to general outreach or planning activities.
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