The Industry Skills Development Initiative (ISDI) is a partnership between Tech Collective and Workforce Partnership of Greater RI (WPGRI) and is funded by the Governors Workforce Board RI. The entirety of the grant will work to align and foster training and workforce development resources in the state’s Bioscience industry- one of Rhode’s Island’s high tech, high growth industry sectors. During the course of this 1 year grant, incumbent bioscience professionals, along with new and transitioning workers will be provided with the opportunities to take advantage of various bioscience training and workforce development activities/services.

 

The 4 components of the ISDI Grant for the BioScience Industry are:

 

1. Training & Development - (Modeled after H-1B IT and BIO Grants)

• Create an Industry Advisory Council to oversee/guide the grant’s training activities and provide industry responsive training for incumbent, new, and transitioning workers.
• Incumbent Workers- Provide training opportunities in the areas identified in the 2009 Bioscience Skills Gap Analysis- professional/technical and soft skills.

 

2. Establish an Industry Based Presence at the One-Stop Centers-

• Provide a “Bioscience Industry Liaison” at 4 of the netWORKri Career Centers (Pawtucket, Middletown/Newport, Providence, West Warwick) to act as a link between Bioscience employers, RIDLT Employer Service Representatives, netWORKri Career Center staff, and job seekers/customers.
• Meet with job seekers interested in the Bioscience Industry- provide industry knowledge, review resumes, identify existing skills/experience or needs, and make connections with training/employment opportunities.
• Host industry information sessions and connect job seekers with training and/or employment opportunities.
• Offer industry focused workshops, training for center staff, and hosting of industry employer sessions with the Employer Service Representatives.
• Meet with and build strong relationships with industry employers and their HR staff to make employment connections and provide them with knowledge of what the RIDLT system can do for them. This will include a workshop for employers to provide them with information about RIDLT system and services, along with grant funding and other resources available through the Governors Workforces Board RI, Workforce Investment Boards, etc...
• Establish an Industry Partner Information/Collateral Center- Work with netWORKri Career Centers to designate an area at each center which is easily accessible to job seekers to showcase information/job opportunities about the Bioscience Industry. This area would include industry reports, articles, labor market information, job postings, career information, etc…

 

3. Establish “Industry Greenhouse” Activities for Students and Educators-

• Partner with the RI Forensic Science Outreach Program and Junior Achievement to conduct a reverse job shadow program for youth at Family Resources.
• Provide industry speakers and field trips for youth at Rhode Island’s 6 Bioscience Academies and 2 Youth Centers/Programs.
• Provide externships at local bioscience companies to 4 teachers involved in the RI Bioscience Academies.
• GRRL Tech (Girls Reaching Remarkable Limits) Career Awareness Day- An interactive technology expo designed for girls from RI high schools to participate in hands on workshops led by female professionals from area companies paired with university professors. These workshops provide opportunities for the students to learn about rewarding careers in science, technology, engineering, and math fields. GRRL Tech is held at Roger Williams University.

 

4. Implement Career Awareness Strategies-

• Work with local Workforce Investment Boards (Workforce Partnership of Greater RI and Workforce Solutions of RI) and local bioscience companies to develop a short promotional video showcasing the Bioscience industry and jobs in RI. It will be used at the netWORKri Career Centers, job or career fairs, and on the web via internet access, so that job seekers and students can access the information in different formats.