PRIDE is pleased to announced that U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development has awarded the nonprofit organization two grants that total $131,000. PRIDE will use the funds to continue a series of free training workshops for solid waste, water and wastewater professionals who serve rural communities of southern and eastern Kentucky.

To receive announcements about the 2018 workshops schedule, please click here to sign up to receive PRIDE emails.

Solid Waste Management

USDA Rural Development has awarded PRIDE $50,000 to continue its free training workshops for solid waste management professionals. The goal of the workshops, which began in 2013, is to reduce solid waste pollution in rural communities across southern and eastern Kentucky by enhancing environmental leadership and solid waste management practices. The workshops are designed for local government officials and solid waste professionals, but educators and concerned citizens benefit, as well. There is no charge to attend the workshops, and lunch is included.

Since PRIDE began offering the free workshops in 2013, 434 people have been trained in solid waste management issues.

To read about the most recent solid waste management workshop, click here.

Water & Wastewater Management

USDA Rural Development has awarded PRIDE $81,000 to help the region’s water and wastewater utility professionals meet their training goals and enhance operations at their facilities. Since PRIDE first secured USDA Rural Development grants for the project in 2013, PRIDE has partnered with the Kentucky Rural Water Association (KRWA) to present free training workshops for elected officials, drinking water utility professionals and wastewater utility professionals.

State regulations require water and wastewater utility professionals to earn continuing education (CE) credits. Thanks to the PRIDE/KRWA partnership and USDA Rural Development support, utilities can afford to train more staff, more often. The workshops are free, include lunch and are held across the region, which saves on driving and hotel costs.

To see the agenda for the most recent PRIDE/KRWA workshop, please click here.

Since 2003, the PRIDE/KRWA workshops have resulted in the following:

• Total Participants – 1,542
• Drinking Water Operator Hours – 6,818.5
• Waste Water Operator Hours – 3,488
• Board Member Hours – 12
• Other Hours – 513.5
• Total overall hours awarded – 10,832

USDA Rural Development

This material is based upon work supported under a grant by the Utilities Programs, United States Department of Agriculture. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in the material are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Rural Utilities Service.

Filed under: Headlines, News