R.I. receives $6M to boost advanced manufacturing, IT skills

GOV. GINA M. RAIMONDO said the new $6 million federal grant to bolster advanced manufacturing and information technology training will "expand the Real Jobs RI program and prepare hundreds of Rhode Islanders for the advanced manufacturing jobs we’re creating in our state." / PBN FILE PHOTO/MIKE SKORSKI
GOV. GINA M. RAIMONDO said the new $6 million federal grant to bolster advanced manufacturing and information technology training will "expand the Real Jobs RI program and prepare hundreds of Rhode Islanders for the advanced manufacturing jobs we’re creating in our state." / PBN FILE PHOTO/MIKE SKORSKI

PROVIDENCE – A new $6 million federal grant has been awarded to the R.I. Governor’s Workforce Board to help train between 700 and 1,000 local workers in advanced manufacturing and information technology-related skills to fill vacancies primarily in the defense industry.
Announced Wednesday by U.S. Sens. Jack F. Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Reps. James R. Langevin and David N. Cicilline, and Gov. Gina M. Raimondo, the workforce board is receiving the federal funding through the America’s Promise Job Driven Grant Program and expands the Real Jobs Rhode Island jobs program.
The funding will accelerate defense industry workforce training largely through a partnership with Electric Boat, its suppliers and related companies, through the Real Jobs RI Pipeline to Manufacturing Careers in Shipbuilding Program, according to a news release about the grant award.

The funding will be used over a four-year period, and is allowing the workforce board also to collaborate with the Real Jobs Rhode Island Cybersecurity Partnership, the Rhode Island Manufacturing Boot Camp, and the Marine and Composites Partnership, to help member employers fill open positions in the defense sector.
“This America’s Promise grant will expand the Real Jobs RI program and prepare hundreds of Rhode Islanders for the advanced manufacturing jobs we’re creating in our state,” Raimondo said in a statement.

Two years ago, Electric Boat, which has production sites in Rhode Island and Connecticut, was awarded the largest shipbuilding contract in the history of the U.S. Navy to continue building the Virginia-class attack submarines. Earlier this year, Electric Boat was selected as the prime contractor to design and deliver the Ohio-replacement submarines. Electric Boat plans to nearly double its workforce in the coming years to fulfill its commitments with the Navy.

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