Green Infrastructure Certification Program Launches Nationally and Welcomes New Director

Big changes have been announced for the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP). The standardized job-training program for professionals working in green infrastructure construction, maintenance, and monitoring is open now nationwide to partners, trainers, sponsors, and hopeful certificants. To coincide with the national launch, Adriana Caldarelli has joined the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) as director of NGICP.

Founded in 2016 by WEF and DC Water (Washington, D.C.), NGICP promotes a skilled green workforce, streamlines the process of connecting qualified talent to jobs, and supports community-based job creation in U.S. cities.

Previously, NGICP training and exam sessions were offered only in communities served by the organizations that developed the program including WEF, DC Water, and 14 other early partners. Utilities and organizations nationwide can now become NGICP partners to gain the resources to train and certify green infrastructure professionals in their home communities. Organizations interested in supporting the NGICP mission also can help sponsor the program.

Adriana Caldarelli has joined the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) as director of the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program. WEF photo.

Caldarelli has started to lead efforts to increase recognition of NGICP, engage additional organizations in the program, integrate certifications with state and local environmental standards, and join with workforce development organizations to extend certifications to such groups as military veterans. She brings 17 years of experience at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to the position.

“As more and more communities choose to use green infrastructure because of its many benefits, this program will help [prospective NGICP students] stand out,” Caldarelli said.

Read more about the program and Caldarelli in the Stormwater Report article, “New NGICP director aims to guide job-training program to national recognition.” Caldarelli and others discuss the program in the “National Green Infrastructure Certification Program” episode of WEF’s Words on Water podcast. For additional details, send an email to ngicp@wef.org.