Opportunity ID: 363657
General Information
| Funding Opportunity Number | EPA-OW-OWM-26-03 |
| Funding Opportunity Title | Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant |
| Agency | Dannell Brown Grants Specialist |
| Document Type | synopsis |
| Version | 2 |
| Opportunity Category | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation | Not specified |
| Funding Instrument Type | Cooperative Agreement |
| Category of Funding Activity | Education |
| Category Explanation | Not specified |
| Expected Number of Awards | 15 |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement | No |
| Posted Date | Aug 19, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT |
| Last Updated Date | Sep 09, 2026 11:09:00 AM EDT |
| Original Closing Date | Oct 05, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT |
| Original Closing Date Notes | Not specified |
| Current Closing Date | Oct 15, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT |
| Current Closing Date Notes | Not specified |
| Estimated Synopsis Date | Not specified |
| Estimated Application Due Date | Not specified |
| Estimated Award Date | Not specified |
| Estimated Project Start Date | Not specified |
| Archive Date | Nov 04, 2026 12:00:00 AM EST |
| Estimated Total Program Funding | 10,800,000 |
| Award Ceiling | 7,800,000 |
| Award Floor | none |
Assistance Listings
- 66.445 — Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Program (SDWA 1459E)
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants | Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification) |
See Section 2 of the full announcement for eligibility information.
Description
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.
Additional Information
| Contact | Dannell Brown Grants Specialist |
| Contact Information | Technical Contact: Hana Abate; WaterWorkforceNOFO@epa.gov Eligibility Contact: Hana Abate; WaterWorkforceNOFO@epa.gov Electronic Submissions Contact: : ; 1-800-518-4726 |
| WaterWorkforceNOFO@epa.gov | |
| Email Description | WaterWorkforceNOFO@epa.gov |
| Phone | 202-250-8872 |
Additional information
Version History
Version history
| Opp hist id / Opportunity id | 363657 |
| Opp hist id / Revision | 1 |
| Opportunity id | 363657 |
| Revision | 1 |
| Opportunity number | EPA-OW-OWM-26-03 |
| Opportunity title | Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant |
| Owning agency code | EPA |
| Opportunity category / Category | D |
| Opportunity category / Description | Discretionary |
| Synopsis / Id / Opportunity id | 363657 |
| Synopsis / Id / Revision | 1 |
| Synopsis / Opportunity id | 363657 |
| Synopsis / Revision | 1 |
| Synopsis / Version | 1 |
| Synopsis / Agency code | EPA |
| Synopsis / Agency address desc | WaterWorkforceNOFO@epa.gov |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Code | EPA |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Seed | EPA |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Agency name | Environmental Protection Agency |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Agency code | EPA |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Top agency code | EPA |
| Synopsis / Agency contact phone | 202-250-8872 |
| Synopsis / Agency contact name | Dannell Brown Grants Specialist |
| Synopsis / Agency contact desc | Technical Contact: Hana Abate; WaterWorkforceNOFO@epa.gov Eligibility Contact: Hana Abate; WaterWorkforceNOFO@epa.gov Electronic Submissions Contact: : ; 1-800-518-4726 |
| Synopsis / Agency contact email | WaterWorkforceNOFO@epa.gov |
| Synopsis / Agency contact email desc | WaterWorkforceNOFO@epa.gov |
| Synopsis / Synopsis desc | 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. |
| Synopsis / Response date | Oct 05, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT |
| Synopsis / Response date desc | Not specified |
| Synopsis / Posting date | Aug 19, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT |
| Synopsis / Archive date | Nov 04, 2026 12:00:00 AM EST |
| Synopsis / Cost sharing | No |
| Synopsis / Number of awards | 15 |
| Synopsis / Estimated funding | 10800000 |
| Synopsis / Estimated funding formatted | 10,800,000 |
| Synopsis / Award ceiling | 7800000 |
| Synopsis / Award ceiling formatted | 7,800,000 |
| Synopsis / Award floor | none |
| Synopsis / Applicant eligibility desc | See Section 2 of the full announcement for eligibility information. |
| Synopsis / Create time stamp | Aug 19, 2026 08:32:43 AM EDT |
| Synopsis / Action type | U |
| Synopsis / Action date | Sep 09, 2026 11:09:00 AM EDT |
| Synopsis / Created date | Aug 19, 2026 08:32:43 AM EDT |
| Synopsis / Last updated date | Aug 19, 2026 08:32:43 AM EDT |
| Synopsis / Applicant types 1 / Id | 25 |
| Synopsis / Applicant types 1 / Description | Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification) |
| Synopsis / Funding instruments 1 / Id | CA |
| Synopsis / Funding instruments 1 / Description | Cooperative Agreement |
| Synopsis / Funding activity categories 1 / Id | ED |
| Synopsis / Funding activity categories 1 / Description | Education |
| Synopsis / Response date str | 2026-10-05-00-00-00 |
| Synopsis / Posting date str | 2026-08-19-00-00-00 |
| Synopsis / Archive date str | 2026-11-04-00-00-00 |
| Synopsis / Create time stamp str | 2026-08-19-08-32-43 |
| Cfdas 1 / Id | 435141 |
| Cfdas 1 / Opportunity id | 363657 |
| Cfdas 1 / Revision | 1 |
| Cfdas 1 / Cfda number | 66.445 |
| Cfdas 1 / Program title | Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Program (SDWA 1459E) |
| Synopsis modified fields | Not specified |
| Forecast modified fields | Not specified |
Attachment changes
| Id / Opportunity id | 363657 |
| Id / Att type | D |
| Id / Created date | Sep 09, 2026 11:09:45 AM EDT |
| Id / Att type desc | Related Documents |
| Id / Comments date | Sep 09, 2026 |
| Change comments | This modification reflects an extension of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) closing date to 10/15/2026. Please refer to the revised NOFO. |
Synopsis changes
revision
version
responseDate
createTimeStamp
| Id | 363657 |
| Revision | 2 |
| Opportunity number | EPA-OW-OWM-26-03 |
| Opportunity title | Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant |
| Owning agency code | EPA |
| Opportunity category / Category | D |
| Opportunity category / Description | Discretionary |
| Synopsis / Opportunity id | 363657 |
| Synopsis / Version | 2 |
| Synopsis / Agency code | EPA |
| Synopsis / Agency name | Dannell Brown Grants Specialist |
| Synopsis / Agency phone | 202-250-8872 |
| Synopsis / Agency address desc | WaterWorkforceNOFO@epa.gov |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Code | EPA |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Seed | EPA |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Agency name | Environmental Protection Agency |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Agency code | EPA |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Top agency code | EPA |
| Synopsis / Top agency details / Code | EPA |
| Synopsis / Top agency details / Seed | EPA |
| Synopsis / Top agency details / Agency name | Environmental Protection Agency |
| Synopsis / Top agency details / Agency code | EPA |
| Synopsis / Top agency details / Top agency code | EPA |
| Synopsis / Agency contact phone | 202-250-8872 |
| Synopsis / Agency contact name | Dannell Brown Grants Specialist |
| Synopsis / Agency contact desc | Technical Contact: Hana Abate; WaterWorkforceNOFO@epa.gov Eligibility Contact: Hana Abate; WaterWorkforceNOFO@epa.gov Electronic Submissions Contact: : ; 1-800-518-4726 |
| Synopsis / Agency contact email | WaterWorkforceNOFO@epa.gov |
| Synopsis / Agency contact email desc | WaterWorkforceNOFO@epa.gov |
| Synopsis / Synopsis desc | 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. |
| Synopsis / Response date | Oct 15, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT |
| Synopsis / Response date desc | Not specified |
| Synopsis / Posting date | Aug 19, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT |
| Synopsis / Archive date | Nov 04, 2026 12:00:00 AM EST |
| Synopsis / Cost sharing | No |
| Synopsis / Number of awards | 15 |
| Synopsis / Estimated funding | 10800000 |
| Synopsis / Estimated funding formatted | 10,800,000 |
| Synopsis / Award ceiling | 7800000 |
| Synopsis / Award ceiling formatted | 7,800,000 |
| Synopsis / Award floor | none |
| Synopsis / Applicant eligibility desc | See Section 2 of the full announcement for eligibility information. |
| Synopsis / Create time stamp | Sep 09, 2026 11:09:45 AM EDT |
| Synopsis / Mod comments | This modification reflects an extension of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) closing date to 10/15/2026. Please refer to the revised NOFO. |
| Synopsis / Created date | Aug 19, 2026 08:32:43 AM EDT |
| Synopsis / Last updated date | Sep 09, 2026 11:09:00 AM EDT |
| Synopsis / Applicant types 1 / Id | 25 |
| Synopsis / Applicant types 1 / Description | Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification) |
| Synopsis / Funding instruments 1 / Id | CA |
| Synopsis / Funding instruments 1 / Description | Cooperative Agreement |
| Synopsis / Funding activity categories 1 / Id | ED |
| Synopsis / Funding activity categories 1 / Description | Education |
| Synopsis / Response date str | 2026-10-15-00-00-00 |
| Synopsis / Posting date str | 2026-08-19-00-00-00 |
| Synopsis / Archive date str | 2026-11-04-00-00-00 |
| Synopsis / Create time stamp str | 2026-09-09-11-09-45 |
| Agency details / Code | EPA |
| Agency details / Seed | EPA |
| Agency details / Agency name | Environmental Protection Agency |
| Agency details / Agency code | EPA |
| Agency details / Top agency code | EPA |
| Top agency details / Code | EPA |
| Top agency details / Seed | EPA |
| Top agency details / Agency name | Environmental Protection Agency |
| Top agency details / Agency code | EPA |
| Top agency details / Top agency code | EPA |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Id | 81118 |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Opportunity id | 363657 |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Folder type | Full Announcement |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Folder name | Full Announcement |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Zip lob size | 601080 |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Created date | Aug 19, 2026 08:27:13 AM EDT |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Last updated date | Sep 09, 2026 11:09:22 AM EDT |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Synopsis attachments 1 / Id | 354700 |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Synopsis attachments 1 / Opportunity id | 363657 |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Synopsis attachments 1 / Mime type | application/pdf |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Synopsis attachments 1 / File name | EPA-OW-OWM-26-03 -Innovative Water Workforce_ Final_2.pdf |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Synopsis attachments 1 / File description | Full Announcement |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Synopsis attachments 1 / File lob size | 683602 |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Synopsis attachments 1 / Created date | Aug 19, 2026 08:27:42 AM EDT |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Synopsis attachments 1 / Last updated date | Sep 09, 2026 11:09:22 AM EDT |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Synopsis attachments 1 / Synopsis att folder id | 81118 |
| Synopsis document urls | Not specified |
| Syn att change comments 1 / Id / Opportunity id | 363657 |
| Syn att change comments 1 / Id / Att type | D |
| Syn att change comments 1 / Id / Created date | Sep 09, 2026 11:09:45 AM EDT |
| Syn att change comments 1 / Id / Att type desc | Related Documents |
| Syn att change comments 1 / Id / Comments date | Sep 09, 2026 |
| Syn att change comments 1 / Change comments | This modification reflects an extension of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) closing date to 10/15/2026. Please refer to the revised NOFO. |
| Cfdas 1 / Id | 435141 |
| Cfdas 1 / Opportunity id | 363657 |
| Cfdas 1 / Cfda number | 66.445 |
| Cfdas 1 / Program title | Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Program (SDWA 1459E) |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Id | 294017 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Topportunity id | 363657 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Family id | 15 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Dialect | XFDL2.2 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Opportunity number | EPA-OW-OWM-26-03 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Opportunity title | Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Cfda number | 66.445 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Opening date | 2026-08-19 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Closing date | 2026-10-15 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Owning agency code | EPA |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Agency details / Code | EPA |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Agency details / Seed | EPA |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Agency details / Agency name | Environmental Protection Agency |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Agency details / Agency code | EPA |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Agency details / Top agency code | EPA |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Top agency details / Code | EPA |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Top agency details / Seed | EPA |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Top agency details / Agency name | Environmental Protection Agency |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Top agency details / Agency code | EPA |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Top agency details / Top agency code | EPA |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Program title | Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Program (SDWA 1459E) |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Contact info | Technical Contact: Hana Abate; WaterWorkforceNOFO@epa.gov
Eligibility Contact: Hana Abate; WaterWorkforceNOFO@epa.gov Electronic Submissions Contact: : ; 1-800-518-4726 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Electronic required | Y |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Expected application count | 45 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Open to applicant type | 1 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Is multi project | N |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Extension | |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Mimetype | application/pdf |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Last update | Sep 09, 2026 11:07:35 AM EDT |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Workspace compatible flag | Y |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Package id | PKG00294017 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Opening date str | 2026-08-19-00-00-00 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Closing date str | 2026-10-15-00-00-00 |
| Closed opportunity pkgs | Not specified |
| Original due date | Oct 05, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT |
| Original due date desc | Not specified |
| Synopsis modified fields | revision; version; responseDate; createTimeStamp |
| Forecast modified fields | Not specified |
| Error messages | Not specified |
| Syn post date in past | Yes |
| Doc type | synopsis |
| Forecast hist count | 0 |
| Synopsis hist count | 0 |
| Assist compatible | No |
| Assist url | Not specified |
| Related opps | Not specified |
| Ost | POSTED |
Related Documents
There are no related documents on this grant.
Packages
| Agency Contact Information: | Technical Contact: Hana Abate; WaterWorkforceNOFO@epa.gov Eligibility Contact: Hana Abate; WaterWorkforceNOFO@epa.gov Electronic Submissions Contact: : ; 1-800-518-4726 |
| Assistance Listing Number | Competition ID | Competition Title | Opportunity Package ID | Opening Date | Closing Date | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66.445 | PKG00294017 | 2026-08-19 | 2026-10-15 | View |
Package 1
Instructions
EPA-OW-OWM-26-03 -Innovative Water Workforce_ Final_2.pdf
Mandatory forms
SF424_4_0-V4.0.pdf
SF424A-V1.0.pdf
EPA4700_4_5_0-V5.0.pdf
EPA_KeyContacts_2_0-V2.0.pdf
ProjectNarrativeAttachments_1_2-V1.2.pdf
Optional forms
OtherNarrativeAttachments_1_2-V1.2.pdf
