Workforce Alliance secures EPA grant to train in-demand Wichita jobs - Wichita Business Journal
A new grant from the federal government aims to build a much-needed workforce in the Wichita area.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency presented a $500,000 Brownfields Job Training Grant on Thursday to the Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas. The funding supports the training for positions that perform assessment, cleanup or preparation of contaminated land, called "brownfields," for reuse.
"This was a nice win for the region," said Keith Lawing, CEO of the Workforce Alliance. "... Those jobs align really nicely with the construction industry and some companies around here."
Lawing said the grant will enable the Workforce Alliance to offer training to about 90 individuals in things like asbestos abatement, hazardous waste management, how to obtain a commercial driver's license for the transportation of hazardous waste, and other expertise.
In securing the EPA grant, Keith Lawing said the Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas worked with area companies such as Dondlinger Construction, Redemiation Contractors Inc., and iSi Environmental.
In securing the EPA grant, Lawing said the Workforce Alliance worked closely with companies in the area such as Remediation Contractors Inc., which specializes in asbestos and lead paint removal, and iSi Environmental, which consults on EPA and OSHA compliance and has more than 100 employees in Wichita, according to WBJ research from February.
"They have contracts with businesses to help them clean up, you know, waste from manufacturing operations and restaurants and those types of things," Lawing said of iSi, "so they've always had a demand like this, and... having skilled workers in this space who have these certifications that's going to help that local company tremendously."
The training could take anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks with enrollment on track to begin in March, and those who finish the training will have a guaranteed interview with partner companies, Lawing said.
The positions could earn around $19 to $20 an hour, he said.
"These are pretty good jobs that somebody can have access to with a shorter runway to get the skills needed," said Lawing, who was named a 2024 Executive of the Year by the Wichita Business Journal.
As an example of the need for brownfield reuse in the Wichita area, Lawing pointed to the redevelopment of the former oil refinery site at 21st Street and I-135 into the 130-acre ICT21 Industrial District, where Love's Travel Stop opened last month.
"The fact that we have a growing economy and we have development opportunities, these are jobs are going to help the economy grow," Lawing said.
Part of the EPA grant involves some funding for the Workforce Alliance to do some outreach to get the word out.
"We really want to work with some neighborhood work groups and community organizations to spread the word to job-seekers," Lawing said.