IBEW Local 2323 Involvement in Rhode Island Training Program

Providence mayor announces job-training program for the young

01:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, May 5, 2009

By Philip Marcelo

Journal Staff Writer

PROVIDENCE — Free evening job-training courses will be offered for young adults and unemployed out-of-school adolescents at the Providence Career and Technical Academy, the city vocational high school that is set to open in the fall after a major expansion and renovation.

Mayor David N. Cicilline announced Monday that the city has received a $650,000 state grant to finance the first year of the program, which will serve as many as 300 people between the ages of 17 and 24.

The job-training program is one of 30 steps that the mayor outlined in Operation Opportunity, his 18-month plan to revive the city’s flagging economy and create more job opportunities for residents.

“As we focus on rebuilding our economy through strategic investments that create jobs, I want to make sure that Providence residents have the skills they need to obtain good paying jobs in construction and the growing field of information technology,” Cicilline said at a news conference in what will be the electrical shop of the academy, on Cranston Street.

Participants in the adult-education courses can take one of two programs: they may earn certifications in building trades, including the “green” industries, or Microsoft Office Specialist certification, which is helpful in qualifying for jobs in the information-technology industry or in administrative positions, according to Cicilline.

The city is working to develop the programs’ core curriculum as well as the required qualifications for those interested in enrolling.

William McGovern, business manager for Local 2323, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and a member of the Governor’s Workforce Board, which awarded the state grant, said the award was the largest given out this year.

“Most of our grants are $10,000 to $15,000 matching grants given to employers in order to train their workers,” McGovern said.

School Supt. Tom Brady noted the program will allow the Career and Technical Academy to serve more than the estimated 700 students who will attend the school during the day. “This is a glimpse into the future, and it is a bright future,” he said.

When the renovation is completed, the school will encompass 296,000 square feet and feature nine vocational career laboratories including carpentry, automotive, electrical and general construction trades.

pmarcelo@projo.com