Appalachian Water Infrastructure Workforce Development and Training Center

ARC ARISE Project Abstract and Goals The goals of the ARC ARISE planning project are to prepare an implementation plan and implementation grant proposal for the Appalachian Water Infrastructure and Economic Development and Workforce Training Center. The Center will provide training and other services to new entrants in the water workforce, existing operators, potential mentors, water managers, and community decision-makers in the Appalachian region of Kentucy and West Virginia. Several activities are planned to accomplish this goal. The first activity is to assemble a multisectoral advisory board of industry stakeholders to collaborate with the project partners on the data collection tools, the associated results, and the implementation plan. Regional focus workshops will be held in Appalachia Kentucky and West Virgina to obtain feedback from historically underserved populations, regional leadership, water managers, and water operators. Additionally, water management and leadership will be surveyed using an online water workforce and economic development tool to gain further data on the current and future needs of water utilities’ workforce, economic development, and strategic planning situations. The implementation plan will define goals, risks, milestones, existing resources, and additional resources needed to create the Center. Information will be shared by published articles, social media, websites, and presentations at public meetings, conferences and events hosted by local government, agencies, and nonprofits.