With the end of 2021 quickly approaching, make sure you add renewing your NEWEA membership to your end of year to do list. NEWEA and WEF membership rates are scheduled to increase after the first of the new year, so renewing before the end of this year will allow you to take advantage of our best rate.

Renewing your membership will allow you to continue to get the discounted registration rate for NEWEA's technical conferences and networking events; receive the print version of NEWEA's quarterly Journal; access national benefits through reciprocal membership to WEF; and more!

Enrollment for the Young Professionals Committee's Mentoring Program is now open! Applications will be accepted until December 31, 2021 to be considered for this cycle of the program.

This program, introduced by our Young Professionals Committee at the 2018 Annual Conference, was created with the goal of forming a working relationship between those in the beginning of their water industry careers and seasoned professionals.

The program will involve a commitment from mentors and mentees from January 2022 until January 2023. During that time, it is requested that mentors and mentees have an in-person or phone meeting at least once every three months. A new class of mentees will be enrolled at the start of each cycle, but mentees and mentors are encouraged to maintain contact beyond completion of the program at the 2023 Annual Conference.

Mentors from the last cycle are invited to enroll for a second year. Those who plan to participate for a second year are asked to fill out the application again to express their interest in continued mentorship.

On November 5, 2021, the US House of Representatives passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3654, IIJA). Considered a generational investment in our country’s infrastructure, the bill passed by a bipartisan vote of 228-206. 

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg commented “Congress passed the most significant investment in jobs and infrastructure in my lifetime. This is a remarkable achievement. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, along with the Build Back Better Framework, will deliver generational investments in the economy for working people. The infrastructure bill will rebuild and replace infrastructure that is decades, or even a century, old. It will promote safety, help us combat the climate crisis, and advance equitable access to transportation.”

Now that Congress has passed and Pres. Biden has signed into law the major infrastructure package, what’s next and what should communities and utilities do to get funding? With nearly $20 billion in funding for wastewater and stormwater infrastructure investments being provided through the package, this will be a tremendous opportunity for our nation to address current and future water infrastructure needs. This webinar will provide an overview of what’s in the package, the next steps on when the funding will be available, and what applicants should be doing to be best positioned to secure funding. 

Wednesday, December 8

1:00 – 2:30 PM ET

Deirdre Finn, Executive Director, Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities

Timothy Burns, recently retired, New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation

EPA Office of Wastewater Management

Steve Dye, Legislative Director, Water Environment Federation

As we approach the end of the year, NEWEA's Office and Executive Leadership Team wishes to extend our gratitude to all of our members and partners for their generous support this year. 2021 has continued to pose challenges that require us to adapt how we work, live, and connect with one another, and we appreciate your continued support of NEWEA during this time.

Thank you to our volunteers. As a volunteer organization, we could not achieve all that we do without you. The time you contribute to our more than 40 committees makes possible so much of the work we do, including technical and regulatory education, leadership training for young industry professionals, and public outreach, among many other projects.

 

Thank you to our members. Your passion for growing and developing the water industry is evident in the number of members presenting at and attending our events each year, reading and writing for our publications, and nominating professionals and accepting awards for outstanding work.

Thank you to our sponsors, advertisers, donors, and partners. Your generous support in 2021 has sustained existing and new initiatives and programs, including hosting our industry-leading educational and training programs in a hybrid in-person/virtual format, developing a new online certification program, and producing video content to raise awareness about the essential services water professionals provide to their communities.

If you weren’t as involved with NEWEA this year, now is a great time to join us. Our sponsor and advertiser program is now accepting enrollment applications, registration is open for our 2022 Annual Conference, and we are still accepting online donations.

Thank you again for all that you contribute to NEWEA. We truly appreciate your support, and we wish you a happy and healthy holiday season!

New England Water Environment Association newea.org