R.I. receives $7.5M grant to help long-term unemployed find jobs

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island received a $7.5 million federal grant to help the long-term unemployed return to the workforce, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed announced Tuesday.
Workforce Solutions of Providence and Cranston, and The Workforce Partnership of Greater Rhode Island will use the federal H1-B Visa funds to team up with Tech Collective, Rhode Island’s technology industry association, to develop training for middle- and high-skill jobs in the information technology field.

Administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, the Ready to Work Partnership grant is designed to help build a network of talented U.S. workers and enhance partnerships between employers, nonprofits and the job training system so that the long-term unemployed can return to work.

The grant will focus on preparing unemployed individuals for jobs in industries that utilize H-1B non-immigrant visas for skilled international workers, as the program is funded by fees that employers pay when applying for these visas.

“This is excellent news for the state that will help more Rhode Islanders find good-paying jobs in high growth industries. I commend our workforce investment boards, the partner colleges and universities, Tech Collective and other local training providers who are part of this endeavor. They are working overtime to try to help connect the long-term unemployed to work, and I will continue doing all I can to support their efforts,” Reed said in a statement.

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The federal funds may be used for programs that focus on employer engagement, individualized counseling, job placement assistance and work-based training that facilitates hiring for jobs where employers use foreign workers on H-1B visas.

Rhode Island was among 21 states that submitted successful applications for the DOL’s Ready to Work Partnership grant.

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  1. I’m still waiting for someone to explain to me just how do you successfully interact with a group of employers who have decided, after the ” end ” (?) of The Great Recession, to adapt Fascist tactics and strategies in regards to hiring (in order to maximize their profit margins and stock dividend yields) who are quite willing to GRIND INTO FERTILIZER ANYONE OR ANYTHING THAT STANDS IN THEIR WAY with respect to achieving the AFOREMENTIONED GOALS (!!!)….Until this problem is SOLVED; I do not see the majority of the long term unemployed EVER RETURNING TO WORK AT ALL….PERIOD….(!!!!!!)

    For a more detailed picture of the overall situation; Try going to
    http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t15.htm and/or http://www.bls.gov/lau/stalt.htm One is updated monthly, the other one quarterly….jkp