Grants Include Training for ProvPort Crane Operators
Providence, RI - One of the most recent Governor's Workforce Board Express Grants helped train eight Waterson Terminal Services employees to become certified operators of two new mobile harbor cranes at ProvPort. The cranes, purchased through a $10.5 million federal TIGER II grant, will allow ProvPort to expand its services and develop a container operation. ProvPort is one of two deep-water ports in New England.
"Governor's Workforce Board Express Grants are versatile tools for workforce development, because they can help companies address training needs as they arise," Governor Lincoln D. Chafee said. New in 2013, the Express Grants offer eligible businesses up to $5,000 in matching funds to improve the skills of existing workers and are awarded on a monthly basis.
The board has allocated up to $200,000 for Express Grants in the 2014 fiscal year (July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014). As in 2013, companies may reduce their matching contribution by up to $2,500 if they offer an approved work experience program for youth ages 14-24. Applications are available online at www.gwb.ri.gov. To be eligible for a Governor's Workforce Board grant, companies must be contributors to the state's Job Development Fund.
Since the start of the grant program in January, the Governor's Workforce Board has awarded approximately $240,000 in Express Grants to 70 Rhode Island companies. The most recent awards, listed below by community, represent approximately $130,000 in grants to 36 businesses:
Bristol
• Hall Inc. received $5,000 to provide 55 employees with ISO 9001 quality management training.
• Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics received $1,500 to train four employees in lathe and CNC operations.
Charlestown
• Arrowhead Dental Associates received $5,000 to train 41 employees in scheduling and service delivery.
Cranston
• The Rhode Island Hospitality Association received $2,200 to train six employees in Microsoft Excel and Workplace Spanish.
• Taco Inc. received $5,000 to train 30 employees in tolerance stack analysis.
East Providence
• Infusion Resources received $5,000 to train 10 employees in varied skills such as communications, documentation and clinical procedures.
• MotoRing Technical Training Institute received $5,000 to train 12 faculty members in information technology skills.
Lincoln
• BEGO USA received $1,800 to train six employees in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
Middletown
• Warren Rogers Associates Inc. received $1,440 to train two employees in fuel system diagnostic software.
Pawtucket
• American Partners Inc. received $5,000 to provide four employees with management training.
• Embolden Design Inc. received $3,941 to train eight employees in web-related technologies.
• LLB Architects received $5,000 to train 14 employees in project-development software.
• Woodlawn Community Development Corp. received $2,500 to provide six employees with grant writing and customer service training. It also received $2,500 in bonus funding to offer one youth an on-site work experience.
Portsmouth
• Hodges Badge Co. received $4,740 to train six employees in several Adobe design applications.
• Karen's Hair Design received $5,000 to train two employees in cosmetic services. It also received $2,500 in bonus funding to offer one youth an on-site work experience.
Providence
• (add)ventures received $1,795 to train two employees in digital branding and design.
• Admirals Bank received $2,000 to train 20 employees in business writing.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island received $5,000 to train 32 employees in presentation skills and leadership skills.
• Crossroads Rhode Island received $4,125 to train 17 employees in non-violent crisis intervention and motivational interviewing.
• Horton Interpreting received $2,800 to provide 16 employees with medical interpreter training.
• LOPCO Contracting Inc. received $5,000 to provide 25 employees with OSHA 10 certification training.
• Nalari Health received $3,997 to train 10 employees in a variety of software programs.
• Professional Facilities Management Inc. received $5,000 to train 10 employees in Microsoft SharePoint.
• Sansiveri, Kimball and Co., LLP received $5,000 to train 12 employees in technical accounting systems.
• Verve Inc. received $398 to train a staff member in Adobe Illustrator.
• Waterson Terminal Services received $5,000 to certify eight employees in mobile harbor crane operation.
Smithfield
• Breezy Knoll Child Care Center received $2,196 to train eight employees in behavior management and international education.
• F.A.F. Inc. received $3,800 to train 30 employees in Microsoft Excel and Adobe Photoshop.
Warren
• AVTECH Software Inc. received $750 to enroll six employees in FDA medical device training.
Warwick
• Herff Jones Inc. received $5,000 to train 20 employees in leadership development.
• The Jewelers Board of Trade received $2,208 to cross-train 35 employees in service delivery methods and business analysis.
• Lighthouse Financial Services received $2,500 to train four employees in QuickBooks, Microsoft Excel and other income tax preparation tools. It also received $2,500 in bonus funding to offer one youth an on-site work experience.
• Lumetta Inc. received $2,940 to train 12 employees in manufacturing management software. It also received $2,500 in bonus funding to offer one youth an on-site work experience.
• Wolverine Joining Technologies received $1,000 to train eight employees in ISO 9001:2008 auditing procedures.
West Kingston
• Davitt Design Build Inc. received $188 to provide three employees with OSHA 10 certification training.
• South Kingstown Nursing and Rehabilitation Center received $1,533 to provide 100 employees with training related to care of dementia patients.
The Governor's Workforce Board (GWB) 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 GWB has made more than $66 million in strategic investments that reward collaboration among the state's employment, education and economic development entities.