# Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/epa-ow-owm-26-03-innovative-water-infrastructure-workforce-development-grant/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/363657

> Environmental Protection Agency offered grants of up to $7.8 million to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make about 15 awards worth $10.8 million in total. Applications closed on October 15, 2026.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | EPA-OW-OWM-26-03 |
| Agency | Environmental Protection Agency |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | October 15, 2026 |
| Award ceiling | $7.8 million |
| Award floor | not stated |
| Expected awards | 15 |
| Total funding | $10.8 million |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 66.445 |

## Who can apply

- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

See Section 2 of the full announcement for eligibility information.

## What the grant funds

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting applications under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) section 1459E to accelerate career pipelines in the water utilities sector and provide access to water utility workforce opportunities. This action advances the Administration’s priorities, including the goals of Make America Healthy Again, by focusing on building the nation’s water workforce which is critical to ensuring public health and environment protection. Consistent with the law, this action will help inform people about the role of water and wastewater utilities in their communities and increase the awareness of water utility career opportunities. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support expanding career opportunities in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector and elevating public awareness about jobs in the water workforce. Eligible applicants under this funding opportunity are Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), nonprofit organizations, and public works departments and agencies. Eligible activities include apprenticeship and internship programs, education programs designed for elementary, secondary, and higher education students, regional industry collaborations, and training programs designed to support decentralized workforce. Efforts should aim for measurable results and clearly show tangible benefits for water systems and communities. The proposed activities support the Agency’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative’s Pillar 1: Clean Air, Land, and Water for Every American. Examples include training individuals through an apprenticeship program and placing them into water sector jobs, training individuals for industry accreditation, and developing collaborations with community colleges, technical schools, utilities to address the water utility employment needs.

## Questions people ask

### Is EPA-OW-OWM-26-03 still open?

No. It closed on October 15, 2026.

### Who can apply for Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant?

Environmental Protection Agency accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant?

Closed October 15, 2026. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $7.8 million each. About $10.8 million in total across about 15 awards.

### Who has won Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Program (SDWA 1459E) grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were National Rural Water Association, The Water Tower Institute, Inc, Grand Rapids Community College. The program made 21 awards worth $19.4 million in that time.