Grand Rapids Community College, Bay College, City of Grand Rapids, MI

The Water to Work Internship Program, led by Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC), is a regional “learn-and-earn” initiative designed to build a diverse, highly qualified talent pipeline for Michigan’s water utilities sector. In partnership with the City of Grand Rapids, Bay College, five municipal water systems, and a plethora of nonprofit partners, this program addresses the urgent need to replace retiring water professionals, while strengthening equity and representation in the environmental services workforce.

Funded by the EPA’s Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Program, the Water to Work Program combines a paid internship, aligned postsecondary coursework, and individualized support services to prepare participants for licensing and long-term employment and advancement in water careers. Interns work 24 hours per week at municipal water departments while completing online water technology coursework through Bay College. The one-year program supports students in preparing for Michigan’s F-4 and S-4 licensing exams, aligning with industry standards and local utility needs. The internship is built on a cohort-based model that emphasizes mentorship, peer connection, and career coaching. Each intern is paired with two municipal mentors, and receives wraparound support from GRCC’s program manager and community recruitment specialist, including help with housing referrals, transportation, food security, and academic success. The result is a 100% job placement rate among program graduates.

Water to Work serves as the cornerstone of GRCC’s broader EPA-funded regional initiative, combining workforce development, community outreach, and K-12 career programming with enhanced postsecondary training pathways to address critical water utility staffing shortages. The program aims to increase regional water and wastewater treatment certifications by 20% while building sustainable partnerships that help the public understand how clean water systems function and why they matter to community health. As Water to Work expands across West Michigan with additional municipalities, colleges, and nonprofit partners, it offers a scalable model for other regions by combining community engagement, targeted student support, and cross-sector collaboration to create purpose-driven careers while strengthening local economies and safeguarding clean water resources.