GRANTEE:                   Workforce Partnership of Greater Rhode Island, Inc.

ADDRESS:                  877 Broadway

                             East Providence, RI 02914

AMOUNT:                    $2,999,506                 

DURATION:                January 5, 2004 - January 5, 2007 (36 months)

POPULATION SERVED:         The project will serve 650 individuals – 300 incumbent workers; 200 skilled adults transferring from other industries; and 150 unemployed/underemployed workers in the field of Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:  This project’s service delivery strategy will be directed by an Industry Advisory Council (IAC) comprised of all the primary partners. The IAC will 1) verify that training programs for each target population provide development in identified H-1B skill shortages; 2) certify up to 20 training and education service providers; and 3) lead the solicitation and selection of specific training and education services. The training providers will be authorized to credential trainees with IAC approved industry certificates. A select few individuals emerging from these programs will receive a corporate sponsorship to work toward 2 or 4 year degrees.

Rhode Island state institutions are providing $663,000 in match and industry partners are providing and additional $1,916,000 in match.

Of the 300 incumbent workers to be trained 225 will receive promotions and 195 will receive a 15 percent wage increase over the life of the grant. Of the 200 transitional workers, 180 will be hired in skills shortage positions with a minimum annual salary of $35,000 and 90 will receive a promotion and minimum 5 percent wage increase before the end of the grant. Of the 150 unemployed workers, 135 will receive certifications and become employed in the skills shortages area; 65 will receive promotions and a minimum 5 percent wage increase before the end of the grant. Approximately 185 of the total participants will receive tuition reimbursement allowing 90 to earn two year degrees and 95 to earn four year or advanced degrees.

Incumbent employees will be identified by their employer after careful scrutiny of the employee’s abilities. Employers will be required to develop a professional development plan for each incumbent worker candidate. All other trainees will be evaluated on a strict assessment process including math aptitude tests, one-on-one interviews, and reference checks.

KEY PARTICIPANTS: RITEC, University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, DOW Chemical Company, Amgen, Education Development Center. Unconfirmed partners include Rhodes, Spherics, Dominion Diagnostics, Neurotech, and Astro-Med (the last 4 employ less than 100 people each).

MEDIA CONTACT:    Dottie Miller

                            (401) 222-2090 x 104