NEW: Raimondo Announces $45 Million “Back to Work RI” Initiative Using Federal CARES Act Funding
GoLocalProv News Team
NEW: Raimondo Announces $45 Million “Back to Work RI” Initiative Using Federal CARES Act Funding
According to Raimondo, "it will create thousands of job opportunities for Rhode Islanders displaced by COVID-19 and help break down traditional barriers to hiring."
The initiative – Back to Work RI – will use a portion of $1.25 billion Rhode Island received in COVID-19 aid funds.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTLt. Governor Dan McKee recently criticized Raimondo for not using enough of the funds for small business relief.
Online Forum Tuesday at 2:30 -- See Video Below
Raimondo and Mike Grey, Chair of the Governor’s Workforce Board, will be joined by participating business and community leaders for a virtual event today at 2:30pm to discuss this first-of-its-kind program.
"Getting Rhode Islanders back to work doesn’t mean returning to the old way of doing business. We need to give Rhode Islanders the skills and support they need to succeed in the new economy while building pathways to good jobs for people who have traditionally faced barriers to employment,” said Raimondo.
“If we embrace this opportunity and supercharge the collaborative approach to job training that has helped us rebound over the past six years, Rhode Island’s economy will be stronger, more equal, and more resilient than ever before.”
Raimondo said that research shows that automation and Artificial Intelligence threatens 25% of U.S. jobs, and the risk level is significantly higher for jobs that do not require a college degree. Many of those hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic were already among the state’s most economically vulnerable. Two-thirds of those who filed for unemployment insurance were in jobs that paid less than $20/hour, and one-third came from just three industries: food, accommodation, and retail.
The initiative brings together private partners including Amgen, Bank of America, Care New England, CVS Health, General Dynamics Electric Boat, IGT, Infosys, Laborers’ International Union of North America, Lifespan, Microsoft, Raytheon Technologies, Salesforce, Service Employees International Union, and Twitter who pledge to open opportunities to Rhode Islanders through the public-private partnership of Back to Work RI.
SEE MORE BELOW VIDEO
Community Partners
Raimondo will also be joined for the announcement by John Hope Bryant, founder of Operation HOPE, and Zoë Baird, CEO and President of the Markle Foundation, whose organizations are national leaders in economic empowerment. She will also be joined by local partners including Nina Pande, Executive Director of Skills for Rhode Island’s Future.
Each Back to Work RI participant will work closely with a trained career coach who will provide personalized job counseling as the participant navigates the program and will connect the participant to wraparound supports – such as language support, financial coaching, childcare, and access to technology.
To help these coaches deliver support to their clients as they navigate the changing economy, Raimondo in her announcement said Rhode Island will draw from the work of the Markle Foundation’s Skillful Initiative, utilizing the Governors Coaching Corp and Community of Practice training model, and adopt the work of Operation HOPE. Incorporating learnings from both organizations, Rhode Island will provide intensive training and best practices to coaches from state agencies and community-based organizations, enhancing their ability to effectively guide individuals through career and educational decisions.