Initiative connects job seekers with growth industries

With Rhode Island's unemployment rate at 8.5 percent, Gov. Don Carcieri said Tuesday that it's an opportune time to unveil a new initiative aimed at connecting job seekers with several growth industries.

Carcieri and the governor's Workforce Board Rhode Island unveiled the Industry Skill Development Initiative at the Network Rhode Island center in West Warwick.

Carcieri said the $3.3 million initiative is a collaborative effort between the public and private sectors to connect job seekers with several of Rhode Island's growth industries.

The targeted industries include marine trades, hospitality, construction, and information technology. About $1.6 million will be used for education and training in the four growth industries.

About $1 million will be invested in upgrading the technology at resource centers such as Network Rhode Island so job seekers can better access jobs and conduct research online.

Another $400,000 will be used to actually bring the growth industries into Network Rhode Island facilities so they can better assist job seekers.

Representatives from the state Department of Labor and Training, the hospitality industry and the Workforce Partnership of Greater Rhode Island attended the unveiling.