AWWA awarded EPA grant to bolster water workforce leadership

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that the American Water Works Association (AWWA) has been awarded a $852,000 grant to support the Transformative Water Leadership Academy (TWLA), a collaborative effort between AWWA and WaterNow Alliance (WaterNow) that cultivates and develops the next generation of water utility leaders.  

“Today’s announcement is great news for the future of water,” said David LaFrance, AWWA CEO. “EPA’s grant ensures the Transformative Water Leadership Academy can offer more water professionals the opportunity to develop the leadership skills they will need to address the complex challenges the water sector faces today and into the future. By investing in these emerging leaders, we, together with EPA, are investing in the future of water systems and the communities they serve each and every day.” 

The TWLA’s 10-month, cohort-based experiential leadership development program prepares water leaders to address emerging one water challenges through the foundations of sustainable community leadership. The TLWA’s focus on foundational pillars, such as diversity, action and community engagement help ensure a strong and sustainable water workforce that helps communities thrive. 

“We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with AWWA in producing the Transformative Water Leadership Academy,” said Cynthia Koehler, executive director, WaterNow. “TWLA is unique with its focus on environmental sustainability, innovation, equity, and community trust building to support development of the water sector’s Next Gen leaders, and we are very grateful for EPA’s support for the program.” 

With the EPA grant, AWWA will fund two additional TWLA cohorts in 2025 and 2026. In addition to the core curriculum, the grant will allow for expanded mentorship opportunities to support the continued professional development and growth of program participants and graduates. 

“Collaboration is essential to creating a sustainable and resilient water workforce,” said Barb Martin, director, engineering and technical services, AWWA. “The TWLA builds networks to support exchanging knowledge and best practices to address the water challenges of today, and into the future. We are grateful to EPA for providing funding support to advance the TWLA program.”
 
The TWLA program is designed to: 

• Enhance leadership skills: Participants engage in a comprehensive curriculum covering topics such as public health protection, environmental stewardship, community engagement, and innovative problem-solving. 
• Embrace diversity and inclusion: The program actively recruits a diverse cohort of participants, reflecting the communities they serve. 
• Build a network: TWLA connects participants with a network of mentors and peers from across the water community, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing. 
• Drive community impact: Participants complete capstone projects that address real-world water challenges in their communities. 

EPA’s Innovative Water Workforce Development Grant Program provided more than $20 million in funding to support water workforce development and advancement through initiatives including apprenticeships, regional collaboration and leadership development.

Applications will be accepted for the 2025 TWLA cohort from Aug. 1 through Sept. 25. For more information about the TWLA program and application process, please visit awwa.org/TWLA.

###

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.