OpenFederal grantEPA-OW-OWM-26-03

Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant

Environmental Protection AgencyCloses Oct 15, 2026(2 days left)Up to $7,800,000

Does this fit your business?

This is an EPA grant for building the water utility workforce, and it is open only to institutions of higher education, nonprofits, and public works departments or agencies. It funds apprenticeships, internships, K-12 through higher-ed education programs, regional collaborations, and water sector job training. For-profit businesses, including small businesses and sole proprietors, should not apply at all.

Best for
Institutions of higher education running water or wastewater training programs, Nonprofit organizations running apprenticeships, internships, or K-12 water career education, Public works departments and agencies building utility career pipelines, Regional collaborations of community colleges, technical schools, and utilities
Not for
For-profit businesses of any size, including small businesses and sole proprietorships, Retail, finance, or real estate companies with no water workforce training role
Estimated fit by industry, best first
IndustryEstimated fit
Education & TrainingMatches your industry (education, training, workforce, stem)
100
Strong Match
Environment & ConservationMatches your industry (environment)
83
Strong Match
Social Services & NonprofitMatches your industry (community, nonprofit)
83
Strong Match
Arts & CultureLimit: Closes in 27 days
54
Possible Match
Agriculture & FarmingLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Construction & InfrastructureLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Show all 15 industries
Estimated fit by industry, best first
IndustryEstimated fit
Energy & Clean TechLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Finance & BankingLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Food & BeverageLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Healthcare & BiotechLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Housing & Real EstateLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
ManufacturingLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Retail & E-CommerceLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Technology & SoftwareLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Transportation & LogisticsLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring

These are our matcher’s estimates for a typical business in each industry. A real match depends on your size, your state and what you need the money for — check your own fit.

What this funds

Money can be used for
Training, Education, Technical assistance, Operating support
Who can apply
Nonprofits, Colleges and universities, State and local governments
Award range
Up to $7,800,000

Questions about this grant

When is the application deadline?
October 15, 2026.
How much funding can an applicant receive?
The largest single award is $7,800,000, and total program funding is $10,800,000 across roughly 15 expected awards. No cost sharing is required.
Who can apply for this grant?
Institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and public works departments and agencies. For-profit businesses, including small businesses, may not apply.
Can a sole proprietor or single-member LLC apply?
No. Only institutions of higher education, nonprofits, and public works departments or agencies are eligible, and the facts state that for-profit businesses and small businesses may not apply.
Can a nonprofit apply?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations are an eligible applicant type, and the program funds apprenticeships, internships, education programs, regional collaborations, and water sector job training.

Summary

EPA grant under SDWA 1459E to build the water utility workforce. Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and public works departments/agencies. Funds support apprenticeships, internships, K-12 and higher-ed education programs, regional industry collaborations, and training for water sector jobs.

About this grant

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.

Who can apply

Our reading of the listing: for-profit businesses are not eligible for this one.

See Section 2 of the full announcement for eligibility information.

Topics and uses of funds

Topics

  • Water
  • Workforce
  • Environment
  • Education

Program contact

Dannell Brown Grants SpecialistWaterWorkforceNOFO@epa.gov202-250-8872

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