Preparing New Entrants to the workforce for Sustainable Careers in the Water Sector in Central Appalachia

Year One: Task 1: UK personnel will work with representatives of the Kentucky Rural Water Association (KRWA), the Kentucky Department of Education’s Technical Ready Apprentices for Careers in Kentucky (TRACK) program, the Kentucky Operator Certification Program, educators from high school or community colleges, and/or water utilities to identify additional training needs to develop a workforce development program for youth interested in water utility careers. Task 2: UK personnel will work with KRWA to develop modules relevant to water professionals to supplement existing training through the TRACK Program. The KRWA apprenticeship program requires interns to complete 4,000 hours of on-the-job training and 288 classroom hours. The modules will be tailored to introduce youth to the water and wastewater industry and intended to dovetail with the current KRWA apprenticeship program. Task 3: UK personnel will work with KRWA to develop and provide for mentors at the City of Ashland Water Works. Training will be provided to establish mentors prior to recruitment of potential interns. Task 4: UK personnel will work with representatives of the KRWA, the TRACK program, educational institutions in the Boyd County area, and the City of Ashland Water Works to recruit students to participate in internships with the City of Ashland. The goal is to have at least four students begin an internship during the summer of 2024. The City of Ashland will be responsible for interviewing interested candidates for the intern positions, establishing mentors for the students, and reporting the student’s progress to UK personnel. Internships will extend for 12 weeks at 40 hours per week during the summer. Students participating in the internship will be financially supported by the water utility (funded through subaward). Task 5: UK personnel will communicate the eight established standards for employers offering ‘good jobs’ with the interns and the City of Ashland through orientation training at the beginning of the internship. Task 6: UK personnel will work with the City of Ashland and interns to assess and revise the program as necessary improve to provide services to the participants and the employer. Year Two: Task 7: In year 2, UK personnel will continue to work with KRWA on the development and implementation of the training modules relevant to water professionals as needed. Task 8: UK personnel will continue to provide technical, logistical, and financial assistance to the City of Ashland Water Works, which will be responsible for interviewing interested candidates for the utility intern positions, establishing mentors for the interns, and report the intern’s progress to UK personnel. The goal is to have at least four interns during the summer of 2025. UK personnel will also monitor and track the intern’s progress in the internship program. Interns participating in the internship will be financially supported by the water utility (funded through subaward). At the end of the year, UK personnel will work with the City of Ashland Works and interns to assess and revise the program, as necessary. Year Three: Task 9: In year 3, UK personnel will continue to work with KRWA on the development and implementation of the training modules as needed. Task 10: As in year 2, UK personnel will continue to provide technical, logistical, and financial assistance to the City of Ashland water utility who will be responsible for interviewing interested candidates for the utility intern positions, establishing mentors for the students, and reporting the student’s progress to UK personnel. The goal is to have at least four interns during the summer of 2026. UK personnel will continue to monitor and track the intern’s progress in the internship program. Interns participating in the internship will be financially supported by the water utility (funded through subaward). At the end of the year, UK personnel will work with the City of Ashland water utility to assess and revise the program, as necessary. Multi-Year: Task 8: Project Logistics/Monitoring/Reporting/Advisory Committee Meetings UK personnel will provide project management and coordination of all tasks associated with the project and ensure that all milestones are being met and participants are making progress. We will also provide information to West Virginia University for inclusion in quarterly reports to the funding agency. Finally, we will participate in quarterly conference calls and meetings with the overall project advisory committee which will involve leadership from all four participating universities.