News Release

Larimer County Partners With Weld County And Several Cities On New Water Training Program

Department: Workforce Center
Release Date: Jun 28, 2012

Contact Information:

Mary Cook, (970) 498-6650, mcook@larimer.org

The Larimer County Workforce Center, in partnership with the Weld County Workforce Center, the Cities of Fort Collins, Greeley and Loveland, is launching a new training program for potential water and wastewater utility employees.

The new program is called the Water Utility Science Program (WUSP). Students interested in the WUSP will begin classes this fall.

WUSP will prepare students for career opportunities in water and wastewater. It will provide specialized training leading to State of Colorado certifications for jobs in both fields. For more information about this program go to http://www.getintowaterco.org/northern-colorado-project/. Applications are available on Larimer County Workforce website: www.larimerworkforce.org and are due on July 27.

Industry sources estimate that hundreds of mission critical water positions could open up in Colorado in the next five to six years because of baby boomer retirements, job losses to other industries, and population growth.

Jason Assouline, of the Rocky Mountain Section of the American Water Works Association (RMSAWWA), said the WUSP is part of a larger initiative RMSAWWA has launched called the Get Into Water! Project, initially funded by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) in partnership with industry partners, Arapahoe/Douglas Works!, Denver Office of Economic Development, Division of Workforce Development, and Workforce Boulder County.)

Get Into Water! addresses workforce deficits projected in Colorado’s Front Range for jobs deemed mission critical in the water and wastewater field over the next five to six years.

“Get Into Water!, which began in Arapahoe, Douglas, Denver and Boulder counties in 2010, introduces adults and high school students to career opportunities in the water and wastewater operations fields and provides training courses leading to State of Colorado certifications,” Assouline said.

“Jobs in this field tend to be stable, and benefits packages are good, too. The initiative will fill the resource pipeline with qualified operators for jobs in water and wastewater treatment, water distribution and wastewater collection,” said Tom Dingeman, Wastewater Treatment Division Manager for the City of Greeley.

“The City of Fort Collins is pleased to be participating in this program,” said Lisa Voytko, Water Production Manager. “There is a lot of work ahead to expand the resource pool to ensure qualified operators can fill these mission-critical positions in the region.”

The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) approved additional funding of $75,000 for the Get Into Water! Project to expand efforts in northern Colorado. The original grant was for $500,000.

RMSAWWA and the Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association are teaming with Larimer Workforce Center, Weld County Workforce Development Center and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, CDLE, school districts and local and regional water and wastewater providers to develop and implement the training program.

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