Rhode Island has opened applications for training providers seeking to participate in Workforce Pell, a new federal program extending Pell Grant aid to short-term workforce training, Gov. Dan McKee and the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner announced Friday.
Providers can apply for state-level approval from Friday through Sept. 14. To qualify, programs must run 8 to 15 weeks, align with occupations the state has identified as high-skill, high-wage and in-demand, and count toward academic credit for a certificate or degree.
“This new use of Workforce Pell grants makes critical training programs more affordable and will help us grow in areas such as culinary arts, manufacturing, and building trades,” McKee said.
The state is starting with a pilot. “We are launching a pilot process for initial eligibility and expect to expand it in 2027,” said Catherine McConnell, chief strategy officer at RIOPC, who designed the approval process. Institutions offering training in the state’s priority occupations can begin applying now.
Postsecondary Education Commissioner Shannon Gilkey noted that Workforce Pell awards draw against a student’s lifetime Pell allotment. “We are building a process in Rhode Island that helps to connect students who complete the short-term trainings with available, good-paying jobs,” he said.
CCRI President Rosemary A. Costigan said the program extends the reach of Pell Grants to people seeking in-demand skills and higher earnings.
The program stems from the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, signed in July 2025. RIOPC will review applications and determine state approval before they go to the U.S. Department of Education for federal sign-off.
The eligible occupations list and application are at riopc.edu/WorkforcePell. Questions can go to workforcepell@riopc.edu.
