Governor Donald L. Carcieri joined the RI Department of Labor and Training and the Workforce Partnership of Greater Island in awarding more than $2 million in Workforce Investment Act grants, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, to run 18 youth-employment programs throughout the state this summer. An estimated 900 youth ages 14-24 are anticipated to be served throughout Workforce Partnership of Greater Rhode Island service area, which includes Northern RI, South County, West Bay and East Bay.

This award represents approximately half of the $4 million Summer Youth Employment Opportunities initiative announced by Governor Carcieri in late March. The funding has been divided between the two local workforce investment boards, the Workforce Partnership of Greater Rhode Island and Workforce Solutions of Providence/Cranston. Workforce Solutions of Providence/Cranston is anticipated to announce more than 800 additional summer youth employment opportunities within its service area tomorrow.

“This program combines practical and work-based learning experiences to prepare youth for stable, long-term, high-paying jobs,” said Governor Donald L. Carcieri. “Exposing youth to careers in growth industries, such as healthcare, marine trades, and information technology, will strengthen our economy by ensuring our workforce has the right training and experience.”

“By allowing the Workforce Partnership of Greater Rhode Island to expand its summer program for youth, the Recovery Act funding not only helps Rhode Island in the short-term by creating summer jobs, but in the long-term by preparing the future workforce,” said Christine Grieco, executive director of the Workforce Partnership of Greater Rhode Island.

The summer programs overseen by the Workforce Partnership of Greater Rhode Island range from community gardening and community food bank projects to marine trades and green technology training; all offer work readiness, academic enrichment, career exploration and/or work experience. Participating youth will earn a stipend and/or wage and are expected to meet such workplace expectations as timeliness and professional behavior. By the end of the program, each participant will have completed a work-related project or workplace portfolio.

To be eligible for these Summer Youth Employment Opportunities, participants must be legal residents of Rhode Island, meet income eligibility standards and exhibit one or more of the following barriers to success: o Deficiency in basic literacy skills o Performance at one or more grade levels below age-appropriate grade level o School drop-out o Homeless, runaway or foster child o Pregnant or parenting youth o Offender o Youth with a disability.

Eligible youth can be referred to the Summer Youth Employment Opportunities initiative through a cooperating community-based organization, an educational partner or state agency. Youth may also apply directly at their area YouthWorks411 center (see individual program listings on following pages).

Youth who are not eligible for the ARRA summer programs may still be eligible for other, state-funded work readiness programs offered through the centers. For more information on the YouthWorks411 system, visit www.dlt.ri.gov and click on the YouthWorks411 link.

Through the Recovery Act, Rhode Island will receive $17.2 million allocated for workforce training and development programs, specifically:

$7.9 million in Workforce Investment Act funds to help laid-off workers find appropriate employment or job training; $5.6 million in Workforce Investment Act funds to help youth prepare for and connect to the workforce ($4 million allocated for summer youth employment)$2.1 million in Workforce Investment Act funds to help long-term unemployed Rhode Islanders re-enter the workforce; and $1.5 million in Wagner-Peyser funds to offer re-employment services and netWORKri one-stop career services for all Rhode Islanders.

“The two local workforce investment boards – the Workforce Partnership of Greater Rhode Island and Workforce Solutions of Providence/Cranston – do commendable work in creating relevant and accessible workforce programs in Rhode Island,” said Sandra M. Powell, director of the RI Department of Labor and Training. “By allocating the majority of Recovery Act funding for Workforce Development to these local boards, we are making sure that stimulus money reaches deep into the communities where the need is greatest.”

Summer Youth Employment Opportunities by Geographical Area:

East Bay

Boys & Girls Club of East Providence Award: $220,078.41 for statewide program Serving: 50 East Bay youth ages 14-24 (100 statewide) Focus: Green jobs and human services YouthWorks411 contacts: ◦ Bristol: Mt. Hope High School, 199 Chestnut St., 447-4052 ◦ East Providence: Boys & Girls Club, 115 Williams St., 383-0366 ◦ Newport: Boys & Girls Club, 95 Church St., 619-2759

MTTI Award: $61,629.69 Serving: 25 youth ages 14-24 Focus: Mechanical skills, construction and green energy YouthWorks411 contacts: ◦ Bristol: Mt. Hope High School, 199 Chestnut St., 447-4052 ◦ East Providence: Boys & Girls Club, 115 Williams St., 383-0366 ◦ Newport: Boys & Girls Club, 95 Church St., 619-2759

My Turn Award: $28,145.59 Serving: 15 youth ages 14-18 Focus: Community service/food pantry YouthWorks411 contacts: ◦ Bristol: Mt. Hope High School, 199 Chestnut St., 447-4052 ◦ East Providence: Boys & Girls Club, 115 Williams St., 383-0366 ◦ Newport: Boys & Girls Club, 95 Church St., 619-2759

My Turn Award: $20,220.14 Serving: 10 youth ages 19-24 Focus: Marine trades YouthWorks411 contacts: ◦ Bristol: Mt. Hope High School, 199 Chestnut St., 447-4052 ◦ East Providence: Boys & Girls Club, 115 Williams St., 383-0366 ◦ Newport: Boys & Girls Club, 95 Church St., 619-2759

South County

Career Pilot Award: $205,988.12 Serving: 60 youth with disabilities, ages 16-24 Focus: Work experience and work readiness YouthWorks411 contacts: ◦ Charlestown: 4350 South County Trail, 789-3016 ext. 330 ◦ Wakefield, 1935 Kingstown Rd., 789-3016 ext. 330 ◦ Westerly, 34 Pond St., 789-3016 ext. 330

Tri-Town Community Action Award: ($240,164.03 statewide) Serving: 60 youth ages 16-24 (120 statewide) Focus: Work readiness and career exploration YouthWorks411 contacts: ◦ Charlestown: 4350 South County Trail, 789-3016 ext. 330 ◦ Wakefield, 1935 Kingstown Rd., 789-3016 ext. 330 ◦ Westerly, 34 Pond St., 789-3016 ext. 330 ◦ Johnston: 1126 Hartford Ave., 519-1929

West Bay

Boys & Girls Clubs of East Providence Award: $220,078.41 for statewide program Serving 14 West Bay youth ages 14-24 (100 statewide) Focus: Green jobs and human services YouthWorks411 contacts: ◦ Warwick: Buttonwoods Community Center, 3027 West Shore Rd , 921-5907 ◦ West Warwick: 222 Washington St., 615-7690

Warwick Area Career & Technical Award: $543,076.80 Serving: 170 youth ages 14-18 Focus: Green jobs and human services YouthWorks411 contacts: ◦ Warwick: Buttonwoods Community Center, 3027 West Shore Rd , 921-5907 ◦ West Warwick: 222 Washington St., 615-7690

West Bay Community Action Award: $45,340.00 Serving: 25 youth ages 14-21 Focus: Organic farming YouthWorks411 contacts: ◦ Warwick: Buttonwoods Community Center, 3027 West Shore Rd , 921-5907 ◦ West Warwick: 222 Washington St., 615-7690

Northern Rhode Island

Blackstone Valley Community Action Award: $168,812.00 Serving: 120 youth ages 14-21 Focus: Community-based employment YouthWorks411 contacts: ◦ Pawtucket: netWORKri, 175 Main St., 305-5919 ◦ Pawtucket: Woodlawn Community Center, 210 West Ave., 475-7968

Boys & Girls Clubs of East Providence Award: $220,078.41 for statewide program Serving: 36 Northern RI youth ages 14-24 (100 statewide) Focus: Green jobs and human services YouthWorks411 contacts: ◦ Pawtucket: netWORKri, 175 Main St., 305-5919 ◦ Pawtucket: Woodlawn Community Center, 210 West Ave., 475-7968 ◦ Woonsocket: 55 Main St., 235-6011

Central Falls Family Self-Sufficiency Foundation Award: $22,513.81 Serving: 25 youth ages 16-28 Focus: High-growth industry career exploration YouthWorks411 contacts: ◦ Pawtucket: netWORKri, 175 Main St., 305-5919 ◦ Pawtucket: Woodlawn Community Center, 210 West Ave., 475-7968

Family Resources Community Action Award: $96,189.05 20 youth, ages 14-24 Focus: Hospitality/tourism careers YouthWorks411 contacts: ◦ Woonsocket: 55 Main St., 235-6011

Family Resources Community Action 15 youth, ages 16-24 $65,355.11 Focus: Environmental horticulture and green jobs YouthWorks411 contacts: ◦ Woonsocket: 55 Main St., 235-6011

Family Resources Community Action 10 youth, ages 17-24 $57,429.41 Focus: Construction YouthWorks411 contacts: ◦ Woonsocket: 55 Main St., 235-6011

My Turn Award: $28,522.91 Serving: 15 youth, ages 14-18 Focus: City of Pawtucket service project Contact: YouthWorks411 of Pawtucket YouthWorks411 contacts: ◦ Pawtucket: netWORKri, 175 Main St., 305-5919 ◦ Pawtucket: Woodlawn Community Center, 210 West Ave., 475-7968

Progreso Latino Award: $97,572.18 Serving: 50 youth ages 14-17 Focus: Technology and health care careers YouthWorks411 contacts: ◦ Pawtucket: netWORKri, 175 Main St., 305-5919 ◦ Pawtucket: Woodlawn Community Center, 210 West Ave., 475-7968

RiverzEdge Arts Project Award: $58,326.40 Serving: 30 youth ages 16-24 Focus: landscape and community design YouthWorks411 contacts: ◦ Woonsocket: 55 Main St., 235-6011

SER Jobs for Progress Award: $96,576.82 Serving: 70 youth ages 14-17 Focus: Work readiness and career exploration YouthWorks411 contacts: ◦ Pawtucket: netWORKri, 175 Main St., 305-5919 ◦ Pawtucket: Woodlawn Community Center, 210 West Ave., 475-7968

Tri-Town Community Action Award: $240,164.03 statewide Serving: 60 youth ages 16-24 (120 statewide) Focus: Work readiness and career exploration YouthWorks411 contacts: ◦ Johnston: 1126 Hartford Ave., 519-1929

YWCA of Greater Rhode Island Award: $30,803.41 Serving: 12 youth ages 14-16 Focus: Work readiness, financial literacy YouthWorks411 contacts: ◦ Pawtucket: netWORKri, 175 Main St., 305-5919 ◦ Pawtucket: Woodlawn Community Center, 210 West Ave., 475-7968

Related links

• Department of Labor and Training