Community Engineering Corps marks 10 years of supporting underserved communities

The Community Engineering Corps is celebrating its 10th anniversary of partnering with underserved communities across the United States. The Community Engineering Corps is a collaborative program founded by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA) with the mission to address urgent infrastructure needs and enhance quality of life through pro-bono engineering consulting services.

Since its founding in 2014, Community Engineering Corps has successfully completed 87 projects across sectors including sanitation, water supply, agriculture, structural, stormwater, roadway, site development and energy. These projects have reached over 55,000 beneficiaries and helped release millions of dollars in essential funding for communities that lack access to traditional engineering services.

“AWWA is pleased to have such a strong partnership with EWB-USA and ASCE on a service that is crucial to small communities,” said Paula MacIlwaine, AWWA deputy CEO. “The three entities, staff and their volunteers bring engineering skills to communities, and the Community Engineering Corps brings heart to the three entities.”

Drawing on its founding organizations' memberships, the Community Engineering Corps leverages a network of more than 200,000 professionals and students. These volunteers contribute their expertise on projects in underserved communities across the United States, addressing a wide range of infrastructure needs.

“ASCE has had a long-running partnership with EWB-USA and AWWA on Community Engineering Corps, and we couldn’t be more thrilled about the work this group has been doing over the past 10 years,” said Marsia Geldert-Murphey, ASCE president. “This collaboration has driven volunteer efforts that are vital to our profession and are achieving equity in the infrastructure space by working with underserved communities to design solutions that address their needs. We look forward to many more years of volunteering on these important projects.”

The ongoing need for Community Engineering Corps' services is evident in the 67 active projects with communities currently leveraging their support. These projects highlight and address the persistent infrastructure challenges faced by underserved communities across the United States.

“Community Engineering Corps is an overnight success that was 10 years in the making,” said Boris Martin, EWB-USA CEO. “Addressing the needs of the most underserved communities is understood today as an urgent national imperative. Yet, 10 years ago, it took courage, leadership, and a lot of hard work for our three founding partners, EWB-USA, AWWA, and ASCE, to come together and make this program a reality. With a decade of experience, we are now providing unparalleled engineering services across the nation, making our country a place to be proud of, one community at a time.”

As they celebrate the start of their second decade of operation, Community Engineering Corps remains committed to working with underserved communities, public and private sector partners, and volunteers to create more equitable access to essential infrastructure. To learn more, visit communityengineeringcorps.org.

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Established in 1881, the American Water Works Association is the largest nonprofit, scientific and educational association dedicated to managing and treating water, the world’s most vital resource. With approximately 50,000 members, AWWA provides solutions to improve public health, protect the environment, strengthen the economy and enhance our quality of life.