ELLICOTT CITY, Md. (January 23, 2020) – The Center for Watershed Protection today announced that its Clean Water Certificate (CWC) Training Program for Workforce Development, which launched in Baltimore in 2017, has gained ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) accreditation—the ANSI/ASTM E2659 accreditation for the Standard Practice for Certificate Programs. The Center’s training program, the first environmental program in the nation to receive this type of accreditation, teaches participants stormwater installation and maintenance skills and job-readiness competencies so they can secure living-wage jobs in the stormwater industry.
“Becoming ANAB accredited means that our training program meets the highest of standards, so this accreditation is a huge achievement,” said Neely Law, Director of Education and Training at the Center for Watershed Protection. “We are thrilled that ANAB, an independent and nationally-recognized organization, has validated the effectiveness of our program. This will not only ensure the accountability of our program as we work to expand it across the country, it will also benefit participants and potential industry employers looking for skilled employees.”
The Clean Water Certificate Training Program benefits the environment, strengthens the stormwater industry and enhances the futures of program participants. Through this training, the Center partners with workforce development programs to help connect program graduates with a network of stormwater industry employers. To date, the Center has provided six trainings—one for existing stormwater workforce and five for under- or unemployed individuals. More than two-thirds of participants found jobs.
“This training was so beneficial for our staff and the Center for Watershed Protection was wonderful to work with,” said Teresa Bartley, Environmental Protection Specialist, Directorate of Public Works Environmental Division, Water Quality Program Team. “The CWC training program allowed our staff to become even more proficient in stormwater infrastructure and best practices. I recommend this nationally accredited training to anyone in the stormwater industry.”
Stormwater runoff is a major cause of water pollution in urban areas because the existing infrastructure – conventional drainage pipes – allows pollutants to drain into nearby rivers and bays. “Green” stormwater infrastructure helps reduce and treat polluted stormwater at its source with innovative methods including roof gardens, permeable pavement and green streets, alleys and parking lots.
“ANAB congratulates the Center for Watershed Protection on the accreditation of its training program to ANSI/ASTM E2659,” said Lane Hallenbeck, Executive Director of ANAB. “This accreditation means stormwater industry employers can have confidence that Clean Water Certificate Training Program certificate holders have completed a prescribed course of study specifically designed to meet predefined industry requirements and standards for quality improvement.”
The Center’s training certificate program includes classroom learning, hands-on activities, and field-based assessments to allow program participants to acquire core skills and knowledge in the construction, maintenance, and inspection of green stormwater infrastructure.
The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment is the key funder of the program.
For more information go to www.cwp.org/clean-water-certificate-training/
Media Contact: Kristen Peterson, The Hatcher Group, kristen@thehatchergroup.com, 410-267-4156
