RADF Investment: $2.4 million

Other Investment: $250,000

Total Investment: $3.25 million

Project Period: October 2011 - December 2013

T: 780.454.7745

Project Description

Closer to Home is a province-wide succession, training and community capacity initiative aimed at attracting and retaining qualified water and wastewater operators, addressing the need for community-based solutions as the generational turnover of skilled water and wastewater operators becomes more prevalent. This project will train qualified candidates as operators up to an initial Level One certification standard, giving rural communities the competency to operatre rural systems to regulated requirements. The project's framework focuses on succession planning, recruitment, retention, mentoring, outreach support, ongoing competency development and community education.

Expected Outcomes and Benefits

All projects go through a selection process to ensure they will improve the quality of life for Albertans. This project meets this objective through the following outcomes and benefits:

• Every community will have opportunity to train its operators to meet mandated obligations to protect health of individuals, communities and environment
• Rural communities will build capacity to competently operate rural systems, meeting current and future standards and regulations
• Addresses the generation turnover of skilled water and wastewater operations personnel
• Communities will create, share and grow a pool of knowledge and skills supporting their sustainable water and wastewater utilities