PROVIDENCE, RI -- U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today announced that Rhode Island is receiving $3.85 million through the Job-Driven National Emergency Grant program.  Rhode Island is one of 32 states nationwide to receive federal funding from this new initiative under the U.S. Department of Labor, which is allocating $150 million nationwide to help states train laid-off workers for available jobs.  The federal funding may also be used to provide services, such as job counseling, apprenticeships, and direct job placement, that help connect laid-off workers, including the long-term unemployed, with jobs.

“We applaud DLT for successfully competing for this job training assistance to help put more Rhode Islanders back to work.  We need to do everything we can to help create jobs and connect employers who want to hire with qualified job seekers,” said Reed and Whitehouse in a joint statement.  Earlier today, Reed and Whitehouse helped pass the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which reauthorizes the existing Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and includes several key provisions to better align workforce development programs with economic development and education initiatives and strengthen the role of the business community in implementing worker training programs.

"We are pleased to join local employers and industry partners in the hospitality, manufacturing and marine trades sectors to help deliver customized training opportunities to long-term unemployed Rhode Islanders," said DLT Director Charles J. Fogarty.  "Almost one in four projected job openings in the next 10 years in our state will originate in these three key industries.  Through our partnerships in the private sector, we can help equip workers with the right skills and help supply employers with the right workers when they need to hire them.  These grants help Rhode Island grow good jobs."

Rhode Island may use the federal funds to build upon workforce initiatives that are already underway, including public/private partnering in support of workforce requirements of General Dynamics’ Electric Boat.  The state is seeking to improve strategies designed to meet industry hiring needs and requirements, while also providing a set of services and supports to long-term unemployed workers that will enable them to match employer expectations and competency requirements.  Some of the programs the state is working on include:

  • Utilizing contextualized learning to train participants for welding occupations, particularly with General Dynamics Electric Boat, by expanding an existing training program to include a contextualized instructional format reaching lower literacy individuals;
  • Establishing a CNC manufacturing apprenticeship program; and
  • Expanding supports for long-term unemployed workers entering existing work-based learning initiatives, which include paid and unpaid work experiences, remedial education, transportation vouchers, and child care provisions.

In addition to expanding work-based learning strategies – which recent studies show increase employment and earnings outcomes – grantees are also expected to develop strong partnerships between workforce and industry organizations and align services with other federal, state or local programs and agencies, such as Unemployment Insurance, Trade Adjustment Assistance, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and economic development agencies.

Funding for the grants was made available through the Workforce Investment Act Dislocated Worker National Reserve fund.

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