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Governor Chafee Announces Over $2 Million for Youth Employment Summer Programs

Funding from Governor's Workforce Board, RI Department of Human Services

Providence, RI - Governor Lincoln D. Chafee, joined by Providence Mayor Angel Taveras and Cranston Mayor Allan Fung at a State House press conference today, announced $2.1 million in state and federal funding for youth summer work experiences.

"We can all agree on the importance of providing real work experience to the next generation of our labor force," Governor Chafee said. "Through these summer jobs, Rhode Island youth are learning hands-on technical skills, workplace expectations, and financial responsibility habits that will help launch them on their career paths."

The Governor's Workforce Board and the RI Department of Human Services (DHS) are funding $2.1 million in youth work experience programs this summer. Beginning in July, more than 20 community-based organizations throughout the state will offer a combination of work experience and work readiness training to approximately 1,500 youth ages 14-24. Work experiences run the gamut of industries, including information technology, manufacturing, health care, arts, construction and manufacturing.

Also in attendance were Director Charles J. Fogarty of the Department of Labor and Training, Director Sandra M. Powell of the Department of Human Services, Executive Director Rick Brooks of the Governor's Workforce Board and numerous representatives from those community-based organizations involved in work placement and work readiness training. The Governor's Workforce Board has allocated $1.5 million in Job Development Fund dollars for this initiative; DHS is allocating $600,000 of TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) funding.

"Summer jobs keep young people actively engaged, while also teaching them the skills they need to be successful throughout college and their careers," said Mayor Angel Taveras. "The City of Providence welcomes opportunities that help our young people gain workforce experience and exposure to a variety of career and training options."

"Summer jobs provide our youth with valuable experience in the workforce and with this funding we will be giving many more of them a chance to have a positive, learning experience," said Mayor Allan Fung.

Summer work experience participants have already been identified from among the 10,000 clients of YouthWorks411—a system of 14 youth workforce development centers throughout Rhode Island. All participants will be required to complete a workplace certification such as occupational safety or customer service training; certifications vary from program to program. Most work experience programs are slated to run for 20 hours each week for six weeks, during which time youth will earn minimum wage. Vendors for the programs were chosen through a Request for Proposals process, and are overseen by the two local workforce investment boards: the Workforce Partnership of Greater Rhode Island and Workforce Solutions of Providence/Cranston.

2013 Summer Youth Work Experience vendors include the following:

AS220 Youth will provide work placements for approximately 50 Cranston and Providence youth through its Harvest Kitchen, Creative Project Teams and Big Nazo/Waterfire programs.

Blackstone Valley Community Action Program (BVCAP) will serve 68 Pawtucket and Central Falls youth through work placements at MacColl Field YMCA, RI Construction Training Academy and Charlesgate Nursing Center.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Newport County will, through a consortium of Boys and Girls Clubs around the state, place 58 students from the following communities in summer day camp employment: Cumberland, East Providence, Newport, Pawtucket, Warwick and Woonsocket.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Providence will provide work experience placements for 85 Providence and Cranston youth, some at area Boys and Girls Clubs and others at area businesses.

Comprehensive Community Action Program will provide work experience placements for approximately 80 Cranston youth in both government and private businesses.

Comprehensive Community Action Program/Pawtucket Youth Center will offer 82 Pawtucket youth work experience at such employers as CVS, RI Taekwondo, Exchange St. Café and Division Brakes.

East Bay Community Action Program (EBCAP) will provide 200 youth from the East Bay area with work experience at such employers as EBCAP, Town of Warren, Even Start, Head Start and the East Providence Senior Center.

Family Resources Community Action Program will provide 95 youth from the Woonsocket area with work experience programs in art and design and summer camp opportunities.

Goodwill Industries of Rhode Island will provide work experience placements for approximately 35 Providence and Cranston youth in local businesses.

The Institute for the Study and Practice of Non-Violence will offer intensive training and work experience for 24 at-risk Providence and Cranston youth.

New England Laborer's Academy/Cranston Public Schools will provide work experience placements for more than 20 Cranston youth in area businesses.

The MET School will provide work experiences for approximately 80 youth statewide in construction and green industries and in community non-profits.

RI Hospital/Lifespan will place 62 Providence and Cranston youth in career exploration work experiences across the Lifespan healthcare system.

RI Marine Trades Association will provide 12 East Bay youth with boat-building training and work experience.

The RI Parent Information Network will prepare and employ 12 Providence and Cranston youth as Healthy Lifestyles certified trainers.

The RiverzEdge Arts Project will train and provide work experience to approximately 60 Woonsocket youth in studio-based design and web design.

SER Jobs for Progress will provide work experience opportunities for 70 Pawtucket and Central Falls youth at such locations as the Lincoln Senior Center, Central Falls Fire Dept. and Central Falls City Hall.

Seven Hills Rhode Island will enroll 23 youth statewide with diagnosed disabilities in its vocational independence program.

Tri-Town Community Action Agency will offer work experience opportunities to approximately 250 youth statewide (including South County) through local businesses.

West Bay Community Action Program will provide 25 youth in the Warwick and West Warwick area in such environmental science employment opportunities as beekeeping and tree stewardships.

The West Bay Youth Center will provide 70 youth from the Warwick and West Warwick area with work experience opportunities in local businesses.

Young Voices will provide 36 youth from Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence and Cranston with work experience opportunities at such businesses as Collette Vacations, Pawtucket Credit Union, Merrill Lynch and PixOnTV.

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