Officials celebrate opening of new marine trades program in Warwick

WARWICK – Officials celebrated the opening on Nov. 3 of Warwick Public Schools’ new Marine Trades Career and Technical Education program.

Mayor Scott Avedisian joined Gov. Gina M. Raimondo, members of the congressional delegation, along with education, workforce development and General Dynamics Electric Boat representatives at the event.

The program will help develop skilled CTE students for careers with EB and companies in the marine trades.

“Warwick is proud to showcase our new Marine Trades CTE program, which already is offering an engaging, hands-on, and directly relevant education to motivated students who will soon help Rhode Island meet the hiring needs of Electric Boat as well as marinas, boat builders and other maritime-related employers in Warwick and throughout the state,” Avedisian said in a statement.

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The $240,000 program has been made possible through local, state and federal funding, as well as a “robust public-private partnership involving industry and all three levels of government,” according to a news release from the city of Warwick.

Now located at an expanded location at Toll Gate High School, the Warwick Area Career and Technical Center’s Marine Trades CTE program features five state-of-the-art welding booths, as well as a curriculum approved by the American Boat and Yacht Council and National Center for Construction Education and Research. It serves 30 students – 22 from Warwick and eight from West Warwick, but is open to public high school students around the state. It previously was housed at the former Warwick Veterans High School, which is now a junior high school.

“With strong public-private partnerships between employers and government at the local, state and federal levels, Rhode Island is poised to help our students build the skills that matter to compete for the jobs that pay,” Raimondo said. “By partnering with Electric Boat to open Warwick’s new Marine Trades program and similar programs at six other career and technical education centers across the state, we are creating a clear pathway for our students from high school to career and college – and encouraging employers to grow here in Rhode Island.”

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