Transformational project will expand workforce training, strengthen Rhode Island’s economy, and connect residents to high-demand careers

WARWICK, RI — Governor Dan McKee today joined Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) President Rosemary Costigan, state leaders, labor partners, and industry representatives at CCRI’s Warwick Campus to highlight the proposed $60 million general obligation bond to establish a Workforce Innovation Center at CCRI’s Warwick Campus.

Included in the Governor’s FY 27 budget, the proposed bond will support the development of a new, state-of-the-art training facility at CCRI designed to expand workforce capacity, strengthen key industries, and create new pathways to opportunity for Rhode Islanders. This is a forward-looking investment in the state’s workforce and economic future and is part of Governor McKee’s historic $600 million Keep RI Building bond proposal.

 

Governor Dan McKee speaks by the site of the proposed $60 million bond-funded Workforce Innovation Center at CCRI’s Warwick Campus

“It’s all about J-O-B-S. Jobs are the key to a strong economy, and the CCRI Workforce Innovation Center will pave the way for talented students to find good-paying careers,” said Governor Dan McKee. “This investment will prepare the next generation of Rhode Island's workforce.”

For more than 60 years, CCRI has served as Rhode Island’s workforce engine, preparing students, training workers, and partnering with employers to meet the state’s evolving economic needs. As the state’s only public community college, CCRI is uniquely positioned to deliver workforce education at scale, combining accessibility, affordability, and strong outcomes.

The Workforce Innovation Center builds on that foundation. Comprehensive labor market planning confirms strong and sustained demand for skilled workers across critical sectors, including advanced manufacturing, construction trades, healthcare, information technology, and emerging fields such as clean energy and life sciences.

The Workforce Innovation Center will expand CCRI’s ability to provide affordable, high-quality training that leads directly to employment, ensuring that Rhode Islanders of all backgrounds can gain the skills needed to succeed in today’s workforce without taking on significant debt or leaving the state.

“This is about access, opportunity, and impact,” said CCRI President Rosemary Costigan, Ph.D., RN. “CCRI has always been Rhode Island’s workforce engine, opening doors for students and responding to the needs of employers. The Workforce Innovation Center allows us to do that at an even greater scale and will ensure that more Rhode Islanders can access affordable, high-quality training that leads directly to meaningful careers.”

“I want to express my sincere gratitude to Governor McKee for his investment in CCRI and in the future of Rhode Island’s workforce. I am equally grateful to the Council on Postsecondary Education and to our labor and industry partners, whose support and collaboration have helped bring this vision to life. This is what it looks like when a state comes together with a shared commitment to opportunity, to economic growth, and to building strong career pathways for Rhode Islanders,” President Costigan added.

 

Senator Hanna Gallo

“As we seek to build a resilient workforce, we look for options, such as this proposed innovation center, which will help the workers and future workers of Rhode Island to develop the skills necessary to navigate the constantly changing workplace,” said Rep. Joseph J. Solomon Jr. (D-Dist. 22, Warwick). “I particularly appreciate the concept of a hub here in Warwick that would expand CCRI’s ability to train more students, especially dislocated workers, veterans, adult learners, and recent high school graduates.”

“As one of the tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders whose path to a rewarding career began at CCRI, I want everyone in our state to have the same chance to find professional success and fulfillment. The Workforce Innovation Center represents a critical investment that will help ensure CCRI remains a beacon of hope and opportunity for generations of Rhode Islanders to come, while also meeting the needs of employers in existing and emerging industries. I urge every Rhode Islander to give this exciting project their support in November,” said Senator Hanna Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick).

“The proposed workforce center will expand existing workforce programs and create new pathways that will connect directly to employers, allow students to gain in-demand skills, and enable them to transition efficiently into the workforce. Importantly, it will strengthen CCRI’s ability to partner with Rhode Island employers so that the training aligns with real-world job requirements and creates opportunities for internships, apprenticeships, and customized workforce solutions,” said David Caprio, chairman of the Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary Education.

“The manufacturing and technology-based economy is critical to Rhode Island’s growth,” said Christian Cowan, Executive Director of Polaris. “The Workforce Innovation Center is designed to address both current and projected workforce needs in these sectors while positioning the state to respond to future industry trends.”

“Work in the 21st century is constantly evolving, and working Rhode Islanders need every tool possible to keep up with changing demands,” said Patrick Crowley, President of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO. “The Workforce Innovation Center at CCRI is an excellent opportunity for workers to learn the skills they need to land family-sustaining union jobs as our economy continues to transform.”

“This investment will help address the upcoming workforce development needs for major industries, including construction in the state of Rhode Island,” said Mike Sabitoni, General Secretary-Treasurer of LIUNA.

 

Rep. Joe Solomon (Warwick), CCRI President Rosemary Costigan, Patrick Crowley (AFL-CIO), Governor Dan McKee, and Mary Barden (NEA-RI)

“CCRI plays a critical role in preparing students for in-demand careers, and the Workforce Innovation Center has the potential to connect more Rhode Islanders to high-quality training and good-paying jobs,” said Mary Barden, Executive Director of the National Education Association Rhode Island. “NEARI is a proud partner of CCRI, and this investment represents a meaningful commitment to expanding opportunity and strengthening both the college’s long-term sustainability and Rhode Island’s economy. This is the type of partnership between labor, education institutions, and government that we need to see across the state—from secondary to higher education—that advances careers and supports working families.”

The proposed 44,000-square-foot facility will create a modern, purpose-built environment for workforce training, with industry-standard labs, simulation spaces, and flexible classrooms designed to adapt quickly to changing demands. More than half of the building will be dedicated to hands-on training, supporting expanded programming in advanced manufacturing, construction and skilled trades, maritime, HVAC, welding, and information technology, while also allowing CCRI to grow into emerging industries as they develop.

The Center will expand existing workforce programs and create new pathways that connect directly to employment, allowing students to gain practical, in-demand skills and transition efficiently into the workforce. Just as importantly, it will strengthen CCRI’s ability to partner with employers—aligning training with real-world job requirements and creating opportunities for internships, apprenticeships, and customized workforce solutions.

The Workforce Innovation Center is also central to CCRI’s long-term strategy for enrollment and sustainability. As more students seek shorter-term, career-focused pathways, the Center will position CCRI to meet that demand while expanding flexible, stackable credentials.

Equally important, the careers supported through the Workforce Innovation Center offer strong wages, stability, and long-term growth. Electricians in Rhode Island earn a median wage of more than $44 per hour, while plumbers and pipefitters earn more than $40 per hour. Welders, HVAC technicians, and industrial maintenance professionals commonly earn between $30 and $35 per hour, with opportunities for advancement. Careers in advanced manufacturing and information technology also offer competitive wages and clear upward mobility.

These are careers that allow Rhode Islanders to support themselves and their families, remain in their communities, and contribute to the state’s economic vitality. The Workforce Innovation Center is designed to expand access to those opportunities.

The Center has been shaped through close collaboration with employers, labor organizations, and economic development partners across Rhode Island, reflecting a shared commitment to building a stronger, more responsive workforce system. By bringing education, industry, and training together in one place, the Workforce Innovation Center will serve as a statewide hub for workforce development designed with employer input and built to meet real workforce needs.

The facility will also incorporate high-performance, energy-efficient design aligned with Rhode Island’s sustainability goals, ensuring that it reflects both the state’s economic priorities and its commitment to responsible, forward-looking infrastructure.

If approved by the General Assembly, the Workforce Innovation Center will stand as a long-term investment in access, affordability, workforce development, and economic growth.

The announcement took place at CCRI’s Warwick Campus and brought together leaders from across government, education, labor, and industry—underscoring the broad coalition of support behind a project that will shape Rhode Island’s workforce for decades to come.

About the Community College of Rhode Island

The Community College of Rhode Island is the state’s only public community college and Rhode Island’s workforce engine, providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality education and training to tens of thousands of students each year. Through its degree and workforce programs, CCRI prepares Rhode Islanders for in-demand careers, supports employers, and strengthens the state’s economy.