The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will result in funding for training for those with Rhode Island careers.

Gov. Donald L. Carcieri recently announced that $17.2 million in stimulus funding will go toward workforce training and employment grants.

The funding will include $7.9 million to help laid-off workers find employment or job training; $5.6 million to help youths prepare for and connect to the workforce; $2.1 million to help long-term unemployed citizens re-enter the workforce and $1.5 million to offer re-employment services and netWORKri one-stop career services for all residents of Rhode Island.

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One company’s plan to relocate will result in the loss of several Rhode Island manufacturing jobs.

American Power Conversion recently announced that it plans to move its manufacturing and distribution operations from West Warick, RI, to Middletown, Pa. That move will eliminate 75 Rhode Island jobs. While the company’s manufacturing plant will close by July, its corporate headquarters will stay in West Kingston, RI.

It is thought that 100 jobs in all will be impacted, including 75 positions eliminated and the remainder moved. Employees who are laid off will be offered a severance package, outplacement assistance and transition support. The company’s non-manufacturing employees will be transfered to the West Kingston facility, according to an article by The Providence Journal.

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Those with Rhode Island government jobs in the state’s health department have received special recognition.

The Wellness Council of America recently named the Rhode Island Department of Health as a Gold Well Workplace and one of America’s Healthiest Companies.

One of the factors that earned the DOH its reward was the department’s self-administered health risk appraisal, which is meant to help staff identify their risks, including on-site aerobics, body sculpting, yoga classes, healthy cooking demonstrations and a newsletter posted on its Intranet system.

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The recently-passed federal economic stimulus plan will help create Rhode Island construction jobs.

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Rhode Island will receive $138 million in direct funding, which will support 50 transportation and infrastructure projects throughout the state. The projects are expected to create 1,500 direct jobs and 3,500 indirect jobs.

These projects will be completed in conjunction with the replacement of the Pawtucket River Bridge, which was scheduled to go to construction in 2009. The Rhode Island Department of Transportation is expecting to receive authorization this week from the Federal Highway Administration for $25.9 million. That money will help fund 15 projects, which are scheduled to begin in April.

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Students interested in a future Rhode Island engineering job may want to take advantage of the fact that the Rhode Island Department of Transportation is hiring interns.

RIDOT is currently looking for summer interns interested in engineering an transportation. Those selected for internships will have the opportunity to work alongside professionals in audit; computer information systems; construction; environmental protection; highway, traffic and bridge design; historic preservation; landscaping; legal services; materials; planning and public affairs.

“RIDOT’s internship program is one that can open many doors,” RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis said in a press release. “A summer here can lead to a promising career in engineering, design, computer science or even public affairs.”

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