{"id":111018,"date":"2026-09-29T19:37:22","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T19:37:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/?p=111018"},"modified":"2026-09-29T19:37:23","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T19:37:23","slug":"question-1-to-support-healthcare-workforce-training-in-rhode-islands-high-demand-fields","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/2026\/09\/question-1-to-support-healthcare-workforce-training-in-rhode-islands-high-demand-fields\/","title":{"rendered":"Question 1 to support healthcare, workforce training\u00a0in Rhode Island&#8217;s high-demand fields"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Providence, R.I.\u2014Sept. 29, 2026\u2014The University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College and the Community College of Rhode Island are partnering on efforts related to Question 1, a higher education bond measure on the November ballot. The measure would provide funding for training and workforce development in healthcare, the skilled trades, and other high-demand fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A new Integrated Health Building at URI will expand modern health education and clinical training, strengthening the pipeline of professionals who care for Rhode Islanders and their families. Healthcare careers are among the fastest-growing occupations, as well as the state\u2019s largest employment sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/2026\/09\/poll-72-of-rhode-islanders-feel-healthcare-costs-are-too-high-some-are-going-without-treatment\/\">recent poll<\/a> showed that 49% of respondents believe that Rhode Island isn\u2019t spending enough money on improving and protecting healthcare in the state, with 62% indicating that healthcare should be a top priority for elected leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cURI is proud to play a critical role in educating and preparing the healthcare professionals who serve Rhode Islanders in hospitals, pharmacies, doctors\u2019 offices, and care settings across the state,&#8221; said URI President Marc B. Parlange. \u201cQuestion 1 will help expand the pipeline of highly trained healthcare professionals while supporting URI\u2019s ongoing commitment to advancing the health and wellness of Rhode Islanders. Together, these efforts strengthen our healthcare workforce and help build a healthier, more prosperous future for people and communities across our state.\u201d\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ccri.edu\/alumni\/magazine\/building-rhode-islands-future.html\">CCRI&#8217;s Workforce Innovation Center<\/a> will be a 44,000-square-foot training facility on the Warwick campus and a central hub for workforce education and training in Rhode Island. More than half of the facility will be dedicated to hands-on training, with industry-standard labs, simulation spaces and flexible classrooms that can adapt as workforce needs change. The center will prepare students and workers for high-demand careers in advanced manufacturing, the construction trades, HVAC, welding, maritime, information technology, healthcare, clean energy and life sciences. Designed with input from employers, labor organizations and economic development partners, it will offer stackable credentials and short-term, career-focused pathways, plus internships, apprenticeships and customized training built with employers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cRhode Islanders come to CCRI to build a better future for themselves and their families,\u201d said CCRI President Rosemary A. Costigan. \u201cOur state is facing a shortage of skilled workers in the trades, advanced manufacturing and other technologies; CCRI\u2019s Workforce Innovation Center will train Rhode Islanders for the jobs of today and tomorrow. Question 1 will strengthen Rhode Island\u2019s workforce and our economy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Adams Library at RIC will be modernized to focus on student success and career readiness with investments made possible by the bond. The Student Success and Career Readiness Center will offer academic advising, professional resources, employment opportunities, and real-world experiences to propel students toward high-paying careers. With more than half of RIC students being the first in their families to attend college, and more than 70% of RIC graduates living and working in Rhode Island after graduation, the center will improve student outcomes, increase retention and completion rates, and accelerate pathways to employment\u2014all of which will support the state\u2019s economy and workforce goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf we want Rhode Island to have the workforce it needs in the years ahead, we have to invest in the students who will become that workforce,\u201d said RIC President Jack R. Warner. \u201cThe career readiness center is an investment in their success today and in Rhode Island\u2019s prosperity tomorrow.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Early voting in Rhode Island begins Oct. 14, with in-person voting on Election Day on Nov. 3. For more information visit <a href=\"http:\/\/yeson1ri.com\">Yeson1RI.com<\/a>.<br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Providence, R.I.\u2014Sept. 29, 2026\u2014The University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College and the Community College of Rhode Island are partnering on efforts related to Question 1, a higher education bond measure on the November ballot. The measure would provide funding for training and workforce development in healthcare, the skilled trades, and other high-demand fields. A [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[4,56,41,1906,1914,1913,1905,1915],"class_list":["post-111018","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-archives","tag-college-of-health-sciences","tag-college-of-nursing","tag-college-of-pharmacy","tag-experiential-learning","tag-graduate","tag-public-engagement","tag-research","tag-undergraduate"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111018","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=111018"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111018\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":111024,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111018\/revisions\/111024"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=111018"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=111018"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=111018"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}