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4/9/2026
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Solomon, Gallo join state leaders to highlight workforce innovation center proposal at CCRI
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 STATE HOUSE — Rep. Joseph J. Solomon Jr. and Sen. Hanna Gallo joined Gov. Dan McKee, Community College of Rhode Island President Rosemary Costigan, labor partners and industry representatives at CCRI’s Knight Campus in Warwick to highlight the proposed $60 million general obligation bond to establish a Workforce Innovation Center the Campus.
Included in the Governor’s FY 27 budget, the proposed bond would 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, a forward-looking investment in the state’s workforce and economic future.
“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 Representative Solomon (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 Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick), who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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 would 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.
“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 will align with real-world job requirements and create 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.”
The proposed 44,000-square-foot facility would 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 would 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.
For more information, contact:
Daniel Trafford, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-1922
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