PROVIDENCE – Gov. Gina M. Raimondo’s free college tuition proposal received another endorsement on Thursday – this time from the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce.
“The Chamber of Commerce supports Governor Raimondo’s Rhode Island Promise scholarship proposal because it will help the state’s businesses meet the demands of a changing economy,” Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce President Laurie White said in a statement. “Every business has different needs, but all of our members demand access to talent. Businesses cannot grow without educated, skilled employees. The Rhode Island Promise scholarship creates a pathway to make that happen.”
Through Rhode Island Promise, two years of free college are guaranteed for every Rhode Island student who graduates on time and remains in good academic standing from the Community College of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island, beginning with high school seniors who graduate this spring.
The chamber, in a news release, said the governor’s scholarship proposal invests in job training and education “to expand Rhode Island’s talent pool, grow Rhode Island’s economy and ensure that Rhode Islanders get the good jobs businesses are creating.”
In addition to the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, other endorsements have come from the Southern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, and executives from Virgin Pulse and EpiVax.
William F. Hatfield, Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce chairman, said a 12th grade education is no longer enough, noting only four out of 10 Rhode Islanders have a degree or credential past high school. If that doesn’t change, he said business owners will have to hire people who live elsewhere or move their business out of state to be closer to talent.
“This is about demand. Businesses across the state are looking to hire more people. The jobs we’re creating require a degree or credential past high school. That’s true across the country. … We need people to have more training and more education,” Hatfield said. “We need the Rhode Island Promise scholarship. If we truly want to build Rhode Island’s economy and attract new business to our state, we cannot afford not to make this investment.”
The Greater Providence Chamber is Rhode Island’s only statewide chamber of commerce.
