Question 1 to Support Healthcare, Workforce Training in Rhode Island’s High-Demand Fields

Question 1, on the ballot this election, will support Rhode Island College (RIC), the University of Rhode Island (URI), and the Community College of Rhode Island’s (CCRI) expansion of training and workforce development in healthcare, the skilled trades and other high-demand fields to address workforce shortages and train Rhode Islanders for good-paying jobs.

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 – all of which will support the state’s economy and workforce goals.  

“If 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,” said RIC President Dr. Jack R. Warner. “The career readiness center is an investment in their success today and in Rhode Island’s prosperity tomorrow.”

The 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’s largest employment sectors.

"URI is proud to play a critical role in educating and preparing the healthcare professionals who serve Rhode Islanders in hospitals, pharmacies, doctors’ offices, and care settings across the state," said URI President Marc B. Parlange. "Question 1 will help expand the pipeline of highly trained healthcare professionals while supporting URI’s 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.”

A recent poll showed that 49% of respondents believe that Rhode Island isn’t spending enough money on improving and protecting healthcare in the state, with 62% indicating that healthcare should be a top priority for elected leaders.

CCRI's Workforce Innovation Center 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.

“Rhode Islanders come to CCRI to build a better future for themselves and their families,” said CCRI President Rosemary A. Costigan, Ph.D., RN. “Our state is facing a shortage of skilled workers in the trades, advanced manufacturing and other technologies; CCRI’s Workforce Innovation Center will train Rhode Islanders for the jobs of today and tomorrow. Question one will strengthen Rhode Island’s workforce and our economy.” 

Voters can approve Question 1 this election by: 

• Voting early beginning on October 14
• Applying for a mail ballot by October 13 (and submitting by November 3 at 8pm)
• Voting in-person on Tuesday, November 3

For more information visit, Yeson1RI.com.