FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY JUNE 8, 2026
Statewide effort will connect students, educators, and water agencies to develop California’s next generation of water professionals
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – JUNE 8, 2026 – The Association of California Water Agencies Foundation (ACWA Foundation) and Tomorrow’s Talent, LLC are proud to announce the launch of Tomorrow’s Water, a collaborative workforce development initiative designed to strengthen California’s water workforce pipeline by attracting and engaging the next generation earlier in their career exploration. The initiative is being established through a strategic partnership focused on helping water agencies address workforce shortages, succession planning challenges, and the growing need to attract and retain skilled talent.
As California’s water industry faces increasing retirements and competition for qualified employees, Tomorrow’s Water will create a structure and a framework for water agencies and partners to design, develop, and strengthen work-based learning/internship programs and strengthen education partnerships with the help of Tomorrow’s Talent.
The initiative is designed to help participating agencies build sustainable talent pipelines while providing [high school] students and emerging professionals with opportunities to explore rewarding careers that support California’s communities, economy, and water infrastructure.
“This partnership between the ACWA Foundation and Tomorrow’s Water represents an investment in the future of our industry,” said Lisa Mealoy, Executive Director, ACWA Foundation. “Water agencies across California recognize the importance of preparing the next generation of professionals who will operate, maintain, and innovate the systems that our communities rely upon every day.
As an initial phase of the initiative, Tomorrow’s Talent will develop a comprehensive, co-branded High School Internship Program Toolkit and Implementation Training Program that participating agencies can use to design, launch, and sustain high-quality high school internship opportunities. The toolkit will provide standardized resources, implementation guidance, supervisor and mentor development tools, recruitment strategies, college partnership resources, and evaluation frameworks that can be adapted to agencies of varying sizes and capacities. “Tomorrow’s Talent was founded on the belief that every student should be able to discover meaningful career opportunities and every employer should have access to a strong local talent pipeline,” said Jennifer McDaniel, Chief Operations Officer of Tomorrow’s Talent. “Through Tomorrow’s Water, we have an opportunity to connect students with purpose-driven careers while helping water agencies build the workforce they will need for decades to come.”
The initiative will provide participating agencies with practical tools, implementation support, and proven workforce development strategies while creating greater awareness of the diverse and rewarding career opportunities available throughout California’s water industry.
About Tomorrow’s Water
Tomorrow’s Water is a collaborative workforce initiative dedicated to inspiring, preparing, and connecting the next generation of water professionals. Through career exploration, work-based learning, internships, educational partnerships, and workforce development strategies, the initiative strengthens pathways between education and employment while helping California water agencies build sustainable talent pipelines.
About ACWA Foundation
The ACWA Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 2023 to help address the water industry’s growing workforce needs and to build awareness of potential careers in the water sector. Its mission is to serve Californians by advancing opportunities for all within the water industry through education, research, and workforce development.
About Tomorrow’s Talent
Tomorrow’s Talent specializes in building bridges between education and employment. Through workforce development, work-based learning, employer engagement, internship program development, and Employer of Record services, the organization helps employers develop sustainable talent pipelines while creating meaningful opportunities for students and emerging professionals.
Media Contact
Tomorrow’s Talent, LLC
Jennifer McDaniel
Chief Operations Officer
jennifer.m@tomorrowstalent.com
Association of California Water Agencies Foundation
Lisa Mealoy
Executive Director
lmealoy@acwa-foundation.org