EWIB Receives $250K Regional Innovation Grant (RIG) Award

What do Eastern CT, Washington County, RI, Worcester County, MA and US Rep. Joseph Courtney all have in common?  As of April 20, 2008 that question can quickly be answered: a US DOL Regional Innovation Grant (RIG).  Thanks to the efforts of Rep. Courtney, the Eastern CT Workforce Investment Board (EWIB) recently received notification that they had been awarded a $250,000 US DOL RIG, which will encompass all three (3) counties.

EWIB's Regional Innovation Grant (RIG) funds will be utilized to accurately map the supply of, and demand for, engineering and technical workers in three (3) counties of the greater Eastern CT region (Eastern CT, Worcester County, MA and Washington County, RI).  Once accomplished, a strategic plan will be developed, which will outline a comprehensive regional talent development strategy to help reverse a recent trend of lower wages in the region.

"The Board, CEO Council, and staff are all eagerly anticipating this challenge.  This new funding provides us the opportunity to identify and address the short- and long-term workforce needs for the greater Eastern CT Region," stated EWIB Chairman, Cynthia Lamb.

The Board realizes that time is of the essence with a projected timeline of 18-24 months for completion of this lofty undertaking.  The selection and hiring process for the Project's Manager is underway.  The program is slated to begin summer 2008.

For more information about EWIB's new Regional Innovation Grant, please visit EWIB's website at www.ewib.org.

State Approves Funding for EWIB's Health Pipeline Initiative

Who will be the Nurses, Lab Technicians, Radiologists, or Nuclear Medicine Technologists that will serve the aging population of Eastern CT in the next ten to twenty years?  They may be from among the 40 youth participants that will be working at Backus, Day Kimball, Lawrence & Memorial, and Windham Hospitals this summer as participants of the first Eastern CT Health Pipeline Program.

Through a joint partnership between Three Rivers Community College, Quinebaug Valley Community College, and the Eastern CT Workforce Investment Board (EWIB), our region received a $105,931 Health Pipeline Pilot Grant from the State Departments of Public Health, Higher Education, and Workforce Competitiveness.  EWIB will serve as Administrator for the initiative which will connect students in eight (8) area high schools (Griswold, Killingly, New London High School, Norwich Free Academy, Norwich Regional Technical School, Plainfield, Science & Technology Magnet High School of SE CT, and Windham High School) with on-line healthcare training and a 6-week summer internship at one (1) of the four (4) regional hospitals or other clinical sites in Eastern CT.

“Although EWIB has been doing the summer internship with Lawrence & Memorial Hospital for the past two summers,” stated John Beauregard, EWIB Executive Director,  “this pilot will bring the program to  scale across the entire region and add up-front on-line training to better prepare the students for the experience.” 

“This program will make the students even more valuable to the hospitals during their internship as a result of the new training component we're adding” added Michelle Landry, the Health Professions Development & Career Advancement Coordinator for Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, and member of EWIB's Board of Directors. Hospitals participating in the program have selected on-line courses that students will take during the first phase of the program and have identified the internship placements.  

An exciting and added twist to the Eastern CT Health Pipeline Program is the potential for high school credit for students who’ve completed the course ~ an important factor for all parties.  That’s why EWIB has approached participating High Schools, individually, to obtain approval for credit for the experience.  Students who successfully complete the on-line courses will be eligible for the 150 hour internship.  Students have the assistance of Three Rivers Community College’s Academic Content Coaches, should they run into any bumps along the way.  “I hope to see some of these same students in the future at Three Rivers in our Nursing or other Allied Health Programs,” said Grace Jones, Three Rivers Community College President.

If you are interested in getting more information on the Eastern CT Health Pipeline Program contact: Virginia Sampietro at sampietrov@ewib.org  or visit EWIB’s website at www.ewib.org.

EWIB, Electric Boat, and Colleges Team Up to Train Drafters

With more than 200 drafting positions available, Electric Boat (EB) found itself in an enviable, yet challenging position.  How could they match-up the hundreds of applicants, with good work histories but without the technical skills required for entry-level drafting positions the company has available? Having a longstanding workforce relationship, EB and EWIB began brainstorming.  EWIB saw an opportunity to expand on its successful On-Line Learning Program – a method that allows students to learn at home or at a time that is convenient to them – but with additional academic support to ensure their success.