In a bid to help supply Milwaukee with more certified lead abatement specialists, the Social Development Commission is leading two workshops for contractors interested in joining its Lead Safe Homes Program.

Lead is a neurotoxin that does irreversible damage to the brain and has been linked to IQ deficits, calcium deficiencies, and behavioral problems in children. The program, funded by the state’s Department of Health Services, assists Milwaukee residents in reducing their exposure to lead.

During the workshops, SDC will offer interested contractors expeditious payment, expanded certifications and reimbursement for training costs. 

Last year, the Milwaukee Common Council allocated $26 million in ARPA funds to lead paint abatement and the city also received $4.5 million in Safe Drinking Water Program funds for lead service line replacement.

City officials also said this week a "potential" expansion of the lead service line replacement program could come from the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law, from which the city expects to receive funding in late summer 2023. However, they do not currently know how many more lead water pipes could be replaced with those funds, and serious supply chain issues are also a challenge.

With new sources of funding being dedicated to the issue, lead-certified specialists, including risk assessors and contractors, are in high demand.

Risk assessors are responsible for identifying all potential sources of lead in a home, from paint chips, to dust, soil and water contaminated by lead service lines. 

Lead-certified contractors are required to perform additional safety measures to reduce lead contamination when replacing lead service lines or sealing/eliminating lead paint. Contractors often seal off areas with lead paint and use High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter (HEPA) vacuums to eliminate dust during their work.

Certification in lead abatement can take anywhere from one to three weeks. The training for risk assessors costs $875 and other individual licenses related to lead abatement range from $275-$550.

Both the time and cost can represent a barrier to the number of lead-certified specialists available to work in the city.

RELATED:There's plenty of work for lead abatement in Milwaukee, but getting contractors is difficult

Devin Hawthorne, the owner of Weatherization Services, often receives contracts through SDC’s Lead Safe Homes Program.

“Citywide, every contractor I talk to is looking for people. Statewide, everybody is looking for people. The amount of people that could be employed is definitely in the hundreds,” he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last year.

SDC’s lead program is led by Ofelia Mondragon and Joel Courtney.

The commission expects to provide more opportunities for contractors to learn the process for getting lead-certified in November, if they are unable to make either October dates.

Lead service line replacement had been slowed by supply chain issues, with the costs for replacement skyrocketing in the pandemic-era construction economy.

However, Milwaukee Water Works has pre-ordered a significant portion of replacement parts for 2023, and department officials hope they will be able to increase the average annual number of service lines replaced.

RELATED:Milwaukee expects to see the impact of federal infrastructure funds on lead service line replacement next year

At a water equity summit hosted by Mayor Cavalier Johnson, he noted the city is planning to redesign its criteria for prioritizing who receives lead service line replacement this fall.

The proactive supply of parts and potential changing restrictions on when lines can be replaced are expected to increase demand for contractors certified in lead work.

Certified lead abatement contractors are also spending more time in homes dealing with lead paint, Hawthorne, told the Journal Sentinel this summer.

City officials have estimated 50,000 homes in Milwaukee are in need of lead paint abatement.

Milwaukee landlords may also have an incentive to see a greater supply of certified contractors, following legislation passed in August that would impose heavier penalties and increase city oversight on landlords who fail to comply with lead hazard safety rules.

RELATED:Milwaukee looks to raise penalties for landlords who don't comply with lead removal directives

With roughly $3 million in federal funds allocated for lead abatement workforce development, the city has a unique opportunity to scale up its capacity for lead-certified contractors.

Milwaukee is one of several cities across the country seeking an expanded workforce to meet lead service line replacement goals.

Nationally, lead service line replacement alone is expected to create more 25,000 jobs.

You can sign up for either of the information sessions being held on SDC’s website.

Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 2 p.m.

SDC Lincoln Avenue - 9004 W.Lincoln Ave., West Allis

Friday, Oct. 7, at 2 p.m.

SDC North Avenue - 1730 W. North Ave., Milwaukee

Visit this general guide about lead

Read the Q&A of Dr. Veneshia McKinney-Whitson

Search the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Resource Guide

Alison Dirr contributed to this report.

Talis Shelbourne is an investigative solutions reporter covering the issues of affordable housing, environment and equity issues. Have a tip? You can reach Talis at (414) 403-6651 or tshelbourn@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @talisseer and message her on Facebook at @talisseer.

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