R.I. to receive nearly $2M in federal workforce grants

U.S. SEN. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE said the federal funding will help the DLT improve workforce education and training. / BLOOMBERG FILE PHOTO/VICTORIA AROCHO
U.S. SEN. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE said the federal funding will help the DLT improve workforce education and training. / BLOOMBERG FILE PHOTO/VICTORIA AROCHO

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island will receive nearly $2 million in federal workforce development and re-employment grants to help connect job seekers and employers.

The state’s congressional delegation announced the funding Monday. The state will receive $1,091,635 through the federal Department of Labor’s Workforce Data Quality Initiative. The grant period is for three years.

This funding will be used by the state Department of Labor and Training to improve and expand the quality and availability of Rhode Island’s workforce data by linking it to education data. The state will use these databases to conduct research and analysis aimed at pinpointing the effectiveness of employment and training programs, according to a news release.

Rhode Island also will receive $903,568 from the federal Department of Labor to provide re-employment and eligibility assessments to beneficiaries of unemployment insurance.

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Funds will be used to expand unemployment services offered, allowing the state to conduct in-person assessments that will help individuals identify their strengths and opportunities in the workforce, and provide them with referrals for job training and other re-employment services.

These personalized reviews also will ensure that only those who are eligible to receive unemployment benefits receive assistance.

“This federal funding will help the department improve workforce education and training with an eye toward connecting businesses to the skilled employees they need,” U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said in a statement.

Said U.S. Rep. James R. Langevin, “Workforce development and retraining opportunities are absolutely essential if we want to continue to lower Rhode Island’s unemployment rate and strengthen our economy. I have heard from too many companies that they are hiring but cannot find workers with the appropriate skills. This funding will help us to better connect education and training programs to market demands, thereby closing the skills gap and putting hardworking Rhode Islanders back to work.”

Rhode Island is one of nine states to receive a share of $10 million in WDQI federal funds this year. The other states include: Alaska, Arkansas, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Tennessee, Texas and Washington.

Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessments program grants were awarded to 47 state workforce agencies. Nationwide, $80 million was awarded for the program this year.

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