Providence, RI - Governor Lincoln D. Chafee announced today that since January the Governor's Workforce Board (GWB) Rhode Island has awarded approximately $65,000 in "Express Grants" to 15 RI companies seeking to improve the skills of their existing workers.
A new offering this year, Express Grants offer businesses up to $5,000 in matching training dollars.
"The Governor's Workforce Board Express Grants can help Rhode Island businesses invest in the training they need to become more productive and competitive," Governor Lincoln Chafee said.
Companies may reduce their matching contribution by up to $2,500 if they offer an approved school-year internship program. Five of the 15 grant awardees have chosen this option, and will provide internships to youth referred through the state's YouthWorks411 workforce development system.
GWB Executive Director Rick Brooks adds, "The Governor's Workforce Board is committed to helping the next generation gain work experience and work readiness skills. Offering incentives for businesses to provide internships is one way we hope to foster these types of opportunities."
Unlike the GWB Incumbent Worker Training Grants which are reviewed and awarded annually, Express Grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis. All training grants are evaluated by a committee of workforce development experts and prior grant recipients.
Below is a list of awardees by community.
Cranston
• Central Tools received $5,000 to train four employees in lean manufacturing methodology.
• DiPrete Engineering received $4,380 to provide 15 employees with communications, leadership and safety training.
• Morris and Broms received $4,700 to provide 14 employees with ISO international standards training.
• Netsense received $1,845 to train an employee in PHP and SQL programming. Because the company has agreed to offer an internship, its matching contribution was covered by the Governor's Workforce Board.
East Providence
• Care Resource received $5,000 to train 10 home health care nurses on catheter insertion (PICC) procedures.
• W.R. Cobb Co. received $5,000 to train 6 employees ISO environmental management standards.
North Kingstown
• Bel Air Finishing Supply received $2,400 to train 3 workers in Solid Works engineering design. Because the company has agreed to offer an internship, its matching contribution was covered by the Governor's Workforce Board.
• Trico Specialty Films received $5,000 to train 9 workers in extrusion procedures and other training related to the manufacturing process.
Pawtucket
• Ahlers Designs received $2,500 to train 3 workers in social media and sales practices. Because the company has agreed to offer an internship, its matching contribution was covered by the Governor's Workforce Board.
• Envision Technology Advisors received $5,000 to train 5 workers in switch operation technology.
• International Packaging Corp. received $4,950 to provide 6 workers with supervisory training.
Providence
• The Capital Good Fund received $3,940 to provide 5 workers with health modeling and sales training.
Wakefield
• South County Artificial Limb and Brace received $5,000 to train 4 workers in electronic record keeping. Because the company has agreed to offer an internship, $2,500 of its matching contribution was covered by the Governor's Workforce Board.
Warwick
• Something Fishy received $5,000 to train 14 workers in team building and customer service. Because the company has agreed to offer an internship, $2,500 of its matching contribution was covered by the Governor's Workforce Board.
Woonsocket
• CVS received $5,000 to provide 15 workers with project management training.
The Governor's Workforce Board is the primary policy-making body on workforce development matters for the State of Rhode Island, and has statutory responsibility and authority to plan, coordinate, fund and evaluate workforce development activities in the state. Since its inception in 2005, the Governor's Workforce Board has made more than $63 million in strategic investments that reward collaboration among the state's employment, education and economic development entities.