MCALLEN, Texas - Workforce development specialist Julian Alvarez wants to do something about a pending shortage of skilled workers in the water utility sector.
The Lone Star National Bank executive vice president and former labor representative on the Texas Workforce Commission is alarmed by reports showing that one-third of the water sector workforce is eligible to retire in the next ten years.
So, he is working with the North American Development Bank to prepare a proposal for federal funding for a binational workforce development initiative to produce more water utility operators for the Rio Grande Valley region.
The funding would come through a water workforce training grant administered by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Alvarez said the idea is to do something similar what NADBank helped make happen in El Paso. In El Paso it is called the Skills for Sustainability project. It is administered by The Trust for the Americas with funding by NADBank and Microsoft.
“I am working with NADBank, the Valley’s higher education institutions and our economic development corporations to make a strong case for the federal grant. It will be a competitive bid,” Alvarez said, in an exclusive interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service.
Asked how it works, Alvarez said: “Texas lawmakers recently passed House Bill 1845, which allows high school students to work towards becoming a water or wastewater operator while they are still in school. The bill allows high school students to receive credentials in water and wastewater treatment, for which there is a big need. We don't want another Flint, Michigan, incident here in the Valley.”
Alvarez said higher education institutions such as South Texas College and Texas State Technical College in Harlingen have written letters of support. “They would be our training partners,” Alvarez said.
The EDCs, Alvarez said, are helping him find employers that would take the students.
Asked how it all came about, Alvarez said:
“Back in October of last year, Jesse Hereford, an ex-colleague of mine from our days with (US) Senator (Kay Bailey) Hutchison, reached out to ask if I could assist him with an initiative NADBank had implemented in El Paso that addresses Texas’ shortage of water and wastewater operators.”
Hereford is head of strategic partnerships and stakeholder engagement for NADBank.
“Jesse knew my background in industry recognized certifications may help him in moving forward on this training model,” Alvarez said.
“So, I contacted the community colleges in the Valley, our two workforce development boards, some non-profits, some municipalities and the EDCs for their input. We all agreed we had a problem with a lack of operators and/or an aging workforce.
"Jesse and I set up a conference call with all those referenced and shared with them the concept. We informed them about the grant and how this would fill their workforce needs in this specific field at no cost to the participant.
“Remember, Texas lawmakers passed House Bill 1845, which allows high school students to work towards becoming a water or wastewater operator while they are still in school. It also allows for municipalities to up-skill their incumbent workforce by going through this training program.
“This is a perfect example of listening to our employers and addressing their workforce needs through certifications and innovation.”
Alvarez added: “If we are successful with this application for funding, we'll have some of the training done in the lower Valley and some in the upper Valley.”
In a Trust for the Americas press release, John Beckham, NADBank’s managing director, said his bank was pleased to help with the Skills for Sustainability project.
“NADBank is thrilled to be part of this initiative that aims to help meet the demand for skilled workers in the water industry by providing training and job placement for vulnerable, low-income populations on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border,” Beckham said.
Linda Eddleman, CEO of The Trust for the Americas, said recent reports underscore the critical challenges facing the water sector in the border region of El Paso and Ciudad Juárez, including scarcity and the fact that one-third of the water sector workforce is eligible to retire in the next ten years.
Referring to the Skills for Sustainability (S4S) project in El Paso, Eddleman said the initiative empowers individuals to become the next generation of water operators and drive sustainable development in El Paso and Ciudad Juarez.
She said Trust for the Americas and STTE partnered with El Paso Water and other regional water entities to secure job placement for S4S graduates.
Eddleman pointed out that many of the S4S graduates come from vulnerable backgrounds. She said they are trained in digital, life, and technical skills, specifically for entry-level positions in the water sector. She said the program represents a pivotal milestone in the ongoing efforts to cultivate a more resilient and equitable future for the region.
"Through initiatives like Skills for Sustainability and partnerships with organizations like NADBank, Microsoft, El Paso Water, and our local partners STTE and Western Tech, we are empowering individuals to be agents of change and drive meaningful progress in the region,” Eddleman said.
The Success Through Technology Education (STTE) Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was launched in El Paso 2018. It has a 20-year vision to support efforts that develop, deploy, and advance educational programs focused on harvesting entrepreneurship ecosystems, a STEAM ready workforce, and technology comprehension.
Eddleman said that following a recent graduation ceremony, a series of high-level meetings convened with influential stakeholders, including members of Congress, representatives from NADBank, civil society organizations, and leaders from the public and private sectors.
She said these discussions focused on the continued role of S4S in driving meaningful change across the region, and how this collaboration reflects a strategic approach to enhancing the area's environmental resilience and sustainability initiatives.
Editor’s Note: For more information about the Skills for Sustainability program and The Trust for the Americas, visit: The Trust for the Americas.
