Gov. Dan McKee on Wednesday announced a proposed $60 million general obligation bond to build a Workforce Innovation Center at the Community College of Rhode Island’s Warwick campus, part of a broader $600 million infrastructure bond package included in his fiscal year 2027 budget.
The proposed 44,000-square-foot facility would feature industry-standard labs, simulation spaces and flexible classrooms, with more than half of the building dedicated to hands-on training. Programming would focus on advanced manufacturing, construction and skilled trades, maritime, HVAC, welding and information technology, with room to expand into emerging fields such as clean energy and life sciences.
“It’s all about J-O-B-S,” McKee said at the announcement, held at CCRI’s Warwick campus alongside state leaders, labor partners and industry representatives. “Jobs are the key to a strong economy, and the CCRI Workforce Innovation Center will pave the way for talented students to find good-paying careers.”
CCRI President Rosemary Costigan said the center would allow the college — Rhode Island’s only public community college — to scale up its workforce mission and serve more residents, including dislocated workers, veterans, adult learners and recent high school graduates.
“This is about access, opportunity, and impact,” Costigan said. “The Workforce Innovation Center allows us to do that at an even greater scale.”
The careers the center is designed to support carry strong wages. According to the announcement, electricians in Rhode Island earn a median wage of more than $44 per hour, while plumbers and pipefitters earn more than $40 per hour. Welders, HVAC technicians and industrial maintenance professionals commonly earn between $30 and $35 per hour.
The project has drawn broad support from labor and industry groups, including the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, LIUNA, the National Education Association Rhode Island and Polaris, a manufacturing and technology advocacy organization.
“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 facility would also be built to high-performance energy efficiency standards in line with Rhode Island’s sustainability goals.
The bond proposal must first be approved by the General Assembly before going to voters. Sen. Hanna Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick) urged Rhode Islanders to support the project when it appears on the November ballot.
