Providence, RI - Governor Lincoln D. Chafee announced today that in March and April, the Governor's Workforce Board (GWB) Rhode Island awarded more than $60,000 in Express Grants to 20 Rhode Island companies seeking to improve the skills of their existing workers.
Express Grants offer businesses up to $5,000 in matching training dollars and are awarded on a rolling basis. They serve as a more frequent alternative to the board's annual Incumbent Worker Training grants, which offer up to $40,000 in matching grants. "These grants are ideal for small businesses that can benefit from worker training but need financial assistance," Governor Chafee said.
Companies may reduce their matching contribution by up to $2,500 if they offer an approved school-year internship program. Governor Chafee also remarked, "The internship incentive is valuable on two fronts: it provides additional financial support to Rhode Island businesses, and it creates opportunities for the next generation of workers to learn on the job."
The Express Grant program runs through June 2013. Those companies interested in applying may download an application at www.gwb.ri.gov. Below is a list of awardees by community.
Cranston
• Family Health Care Ltd, received $2,051 to train three employees in urgent medical care billing and coding.
East Greenwich
• Bardon Industries received $445 to train two employees through the Association of Water Technologies.
Glocester
• Resnevic Dental LLC received $1,266 to train nine employees in insurance billing, continuing care and/or treatment planning. Because the company has agreed to offer an internship, its matching contribution was covered by the Governor's Workforce Board.
Middletown
• BankNewport received $5,000 to train 64 employees in customer referral skills.
Newport
• Island Moving Company received $1,290 to train four employers in dance company best practices. Because the company has agreed to offer an internship, its matching contribution was covered by the Governor's Workforce Board.
• Village House received $2,500 to train two employees in dementia education.
North Kingstown
• Dominion Diagnostics LLC received $2,693 to train three employees in Lean Six Sigma techniques.
• Senesco Marine LLC received $3,303 to train four employees in OSHA standards and related testing. Because the company has agreed to offer an internship, $2,500 of its matching contribution was covered by the Governor's Workforce Board.
North Smithfield
• MWV Slatersville LLC received $5,000 to train 12 employees in electronic troubleshooting and manufacturing software troubleshooting.
Providence
• Coastal Medical received $3,680 to train 80 employees in medication reconciliation.
• Durkee Brown Viveiros & Werenfels Architects, Inc., received $2,840 to train six employees in design and modeling software.
• Mt. Pleasant Hardware received $2,500 to train 10 employees in sales and purchasing software. Because the company has agreed to offer an internship, its matching contribution was covered by the Governor's Workforce Board.
• Mojo Tech received $5,000 to train 15 employees in web development tools.
Smithfield
• Precision Turned Components received $5,000 to train 15 employees in management and project leader training.
Tiverton
• Sixteen on Center received $1,440 to train five employees in advanced cabinetry and AutoCAD drafting skills. Because the company has agreed to offer an internship, its matching contribution was covered by the Governor's Workforce Board.
Warwick
• In-Sight received $2,000 to train five employees on client interviewing techniques.
• SyNet, Inc., received $269 to train three employees in OSHA compliance procedures.
West Warwick
• Amtrol Inc. received $5,000 to train two employees in welding technology.
• Cox Communications received $5,000 to train 96 employees in leadership training.
• Lincoln Energy Mechanical Services received $4,250 to train four employees in HVAC estimation software.
Established in 2005, the 17-member Governor's Workforce Board has supported strategies to improve the existing skill base of the Rhode Island workforce and to anticipate the future needs of growing and emerging businesses. Since its inception, the Governor's Workforce Board has made more than $63-million worth of strategic investments in Rhode Island that reward collaboration among the state's employment, education and economic development entities.