Biden shares $2.6B lead pipe replacement plan in Milwaukee, opportunities for apprenticeship

President Joe Biden’s latest visit came with news for lead pipe replacement and investment in apprenticeship in the Milwaukee area.

Biden on Tuesday announced a new Environmental Protection Agency rule to replace lead pipes in U.S. cities in the next 10 years during his visit to the city of Milwaukee Department of Public Works field office. Naming Milwaukee the next “Workforce Hub,” White House officials said the president’s agenda will connect Milwaukee residents to trades jobs replacing lead lines and upgrading infrastructure.

This is Biden’s seventh visit to Wisconsin in a year as Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump campaign ahead of the November election.

In April, Biden named Milwaukee one of multiple Workforce Hubs as a direct connection to funding from legislation such as Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.

The 10-year deadline to replace cities’ lead pipes is supported by $2.6 billion in funding from the EPA’s fund for water infrastructure improvements, White House officials added. Lead pipes, common in older houses and drinking water infrastructure, are linked to long-term health problems for both children and adults, according to federal health officials.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed by Biden in 2021, is funding nearly $100 million ongoing projects in Milwaukee, White House officials said. The city started replacing 100% of its lead service lines and reduced its timeline for replacement from 60 years to 10 years following the president’s goal, officials added.

The city of Milwaukee and Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) were named leaders for creating the next workforce to replace lead lines. Officials said the task will require 1,000 new jobs.

White House initiative expected to create hundreds of new apprentice roles

The city of Milwaukee’s Department of Public works and Milwaukee Water Works will run a pilot from 2025 to 2027 and require 10% of all labor hours in each graft go to apprentices, officials said. Half of the apprentices must come from certified pre-apprenticeship programs that recruit Milwaukeeans who are underrepresented in apprenticeships, officials added.

The new requirement will apply to multiple major road construction bids totaling $102 million, including a $36 million Reconnecting Communities project and a $24.3 million RAISE grant for street improvements of one and a half miles of Villard Avenue, officials said. The pilot will apply to contracts replacing at least 300 lead service lines and is expected to create 172 apprentice jobs, covering around $82 million of lead service line replacement funding from BIL, officials added.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation, WRTP | BIG STEP, the city of Milwaukee Environmental Collaboration Office and local construction unions were named active organizations to draw in more apprentices for water works, highway and other public projects.

MMSD will change its procurement policies to require apprenticeships for crafts working on all their projects, including specialized crafts such as pipefitters and operating engineers, officials said. In 2025, the policy will apply to bids totaling around $90 million for reclamation facilities, conveyance system and flood management projects. The policy is expected to create at least 80 apprentice jobs and 40% will be required to come from programs that serve underrepresented residents in Milwaukee, officials added.

WisDOT has implemented a Federal Highway Administration pilot on a $65 million freeway project with incentives for residents in its workforce and apprentice requirements for federally funded highway projects. The department will consider special provisions for future projects to continue the effort in the Milwaukee area, officials noted.

Milwaukee area unions committed to ramp up apprenticeship classes as the demand increases for public contracts. White House officials projected classes to increase by 200 apprentices.

Union level increases came with specific numbers: The Laborers’ International Union of North America will add 50 apprentices, the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers will add 70, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America will add 75 and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers will add 20.

The city of Milwaukee’s Environmental Collaboration Office will start an agreement to add electrician apprentices as it builds a public electric vehicle charging network in the city. The network construction is supported by a $15 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The office will require electrician apprentices on each EV charging installation and will follow hiring requirement in line with the city’s Residence Preference Program, meaning at least 40 percent of chargers will be put in by members of historically disadvantaged communities.

WRTP | BIG STEP to lead Milwaukee’s construction coordination and job training

WRTP | BIG STEP was the White House’s chosen organization to lead construction coordination and job training amid the federal investment.

Because Milwaukee was named the next Workforce Hub, dedicated funding for apprenticeships in the area will grow by at least $650,000, federal officials said. WRTP | BIG STEP’s partners will make investments in their organization as they will draw in new talent to the skilled trades.

Those investments included $350,000 from MMSD to WRTP | BIG STEP for certified pre-apprenticeship programs, officials said. The sum includes transportation assistance, stipends for trainees and on-going placement and retention for first-year apprentices, officials added.

Employ Milwaukee and philanthropic organizations will invest up to $400,000 in additional funding for WRTP | BIG STEP, including capacity building in apprentice-ship readiness initiatives, officials said.

Employ Milwaukee will use formula funds from the U.S. Department of Labor to support training cohorts to meet the needs of the local construction industry with a goal of training 60-80 workers, officials added.

Unions will also invest more in WRTP | BIG STEP, from $625,000 each year in pre-apprenticeship programs, officials said. The program trained more than 1,000 people in 2023.

Regional trades will invest more in WRTP | BIG STEP over the next two years, adding at least three cents for each hour of member work on regional mega projects, officials added. Those projects include the $3.3 billion data center being built by Microsoft in Mount Pleasant. Unions will also partner with Milwaukee Public Schools to prepare students for pre-apprenticeship programs, officials noted.

WRTP rolls out plans during Biden’s visit

As Biden made his announcement, WRTP | BIG STEP officials said the group will launch outreach efforts to reach more stakeholders.

“We are honored to be named the anchor institution for Milwaukee’s Workforce Hub,” said Lindsay Blumer, the CEO of WRTP | BIG STEP. “This designation provides a tremendous opportunity to algin employers with a diverse, skilled workforce while creating pathways to economic mobility for Milwaukee residents,” she added.

The organization will engage employers, industry associations and contractors to educate employers on what the Workforce Hub designation means and get stakeholders to the table early, WRTP officials said. WRTP | BIG STEP plans to work with union leadership on apprenticeship pipelines.

WRTP | BIG STEP will partner with the Walnut Way Conservation Corporation to coordinate with community-based organizations across Milwaukee and reach underrepresented communities, connecting them to training programs, apprenticeships and employment opportunities, officials added.