The University of Kentucky’s Water Research Institute has been awarded a 430-thousand grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. The money will fund the new Appalachian Water Infrastructure Workforce Development and Training Center. Project manager Donna McNeil said a chief goal is to offer more training for people who work in Appalachian water and sewer plants.
“These are operators certified in the state and are required to know the compliance issues to make sure that we have good drinking water in the state and that they treat wastewater so that it goes back into the environment and doesn't hurt the environment.”
McNeil said another goal is to find more people to do that work.
“To get into the high schools and get into the technical assistance areas. What is it that we need to put together to get more interest into this industry? It's a very important industry. And there's a lot of jobs associated with the water workforce.”
McNeil said economic development through better water and sewer service is also an aim of the ARC grant.
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