More than 20 organizations will share in $2.1 million in state funds earmarked for summer youth work experience programs through the Governor’s Workforce Board and the R.I. Department of Human Services. more

Ask writing coach Lisa Tener how to pen an inspirational memoir, and she’ll point to one of her own success stories, Dr. Tim Warren. more

It is clear from the sound of her voice that Kati C. Machtley is having a good day. The founder and director of the Women’s Summit at Bryant University is beaming, because the Bryant varsity lacrosse team just won the Northeast Conference championship. more

Construction employment declined in 123 of 339 metro areas – including the Providence-Fall River-Warwick area – rose in 170 out of 339 metro areas – including the New Bedford area – and stayed stagnant in 46 metro areas from April 2012 to April 2013. more

Rhode Island remains behind other states in New England when looking at major economic indicators such as growth of the gross state product and the unemployment rate. However, the state economy is slowly regaining momentum. more

When she was one of 15 bank employees laid off from her job processing transactions on customer accounts, 52-year-old Margarita Feliciano decided to go back to the work she enjoyed when she was in her 20s – taking care of patients in their homes. more

A group of human resource executives from five Massachusetts biotechnology companies gathered Tuesday to brainstorm how to better prepare military veterans for jobs in the sector, according to the Boston Business Journal. more

The Governor’s Workforce Board announced Monday that it has awarded more than $60,000 in “Express Grants” to 20 local firms. The strategic investments will partially fund skills training for 344 employees. more

To the Editor: The Governor’s Workforce Board (GWB) deeply appreciates the vote of support for job training expressed in the PBN’s editorial entitled “Broad job training efforts a good sign” (4/15/13). The editorial specifically commends the GWB for two grants recently awarded to Amos House in Providence and Connecting Children and Families in Woonsocket to partner with employers in the food-service industry to train 120 homeless, unemployed and underemployed Rhode Islanders. These awards were two of 10 Innovative Partnership grants – totaling nearly $2 million – that were announced in March by Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee to support innovative business-education partnerships that will prepare unemployed Rhode Islanders with the skills that businesses need to fill current and future vacancies in high-growth occupations and industries. more

Women-owned businesses in Rhode Island are not growing at the rate as those in the rest of the country. Even more alarming, while the number of businesses is growing at that slower pace, the number of people employed by women-owned companies has actually shrunk since 1997, according to a survey by American Express. more