CRANSTON – The Governor’s Workforce Board plans to fund more than $200,000 in short-term training and hiring incentives for unemployed and underemployed Rhode Islanders this spring and summer.

According to a news release, the effort consists of four pilot programs. They include:

• An electronic health-records training pre-employment program with hiring incentives for Rhode Island employers.

• A hospitality-training program with hiring incentives.

• Subsidized fellowships for graduating college seniors to work in the information technology field.

• Post-employment IT and bioscience training for previously unemployed Rhode Islanders.

According to the release, the pilot programs hope to serve 50 to 60 job seekers.

The pilot programs will be paid for by the Job Development Fund, which supports business growth and job creation in Rhode Island and is financed by a percentage of employer payments to the Employment Security Trust Fund.

According to the release, the board will review the outcomes of each of the four pilots to determine if any or all will be renewed. •