Woonsocket Radio News Room

Governor McKee, Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training Highlight Need for Proposed Real Jobs RI Investment in FY26 Budget 

Governor McKee has made workforce development a key pillar of his budget proposal

Governor Dan McKee is joined by McLaughlin Research Corporation President Domenic Gargano at Wednesday's event highlighting the need for further investment in workforce development programs.

Governor McKee is joined by employees and interns from the McLaughlin Research Corporation during Wednesday's event. (Courtesy: McLaughlin Research Corporation)

(L-R: Triet Nguyen, Sr., Network Engineer; Daniel Castenda, UUV Intern; Conor Battell, UUV Intern; Maria Rodriguez, IT Helpdesk Support Technician)

MIDDLETOWN, RI — Today, Governor Dan McKee, Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training Director Matthew Weldon, SENEDIA and McLaughlin Research Corporation (MRC) gathered at MRC’s Middletown facility to highlight the need for $2.3 million in new Real Jobs RI (RJRI) funding to help train an additional 500 Rhode Islanders, an investment Governor McKee is proposing in his FY26 budget.

During Wednesday’s event, MRC employees who came through the Real Jobs RI program demonstrated their work focused on cybersecurity compliance, Artificial Intelligence, robotics, and more. MRC has hosted more than 60 interns through the RJRI program, 30 of which have been hired at MRC.

Real Jobs RI is a business-led workforce development initiative that helps train and prepare Rhode Islanders for good-paying jobs and careers in key economic sectors of Rhode Island’s economy. The program is part of Rhode Island’s Rhode to Prosperity initiative and the Governor’s Rhode Island 2030 Plan, which seeks to raise incomes for all Rhode Islanders and guarantee access to quality education that is closely aligned with industry demands for good-paying jobs.

“The latest iteration of the Real Jobs RI program is targeted to industries and occupations with projected job growth in Rhode Island,” said Governor Dan McKee. “This strategic approach to workforce development will help create the next wave of economic momentum and give our residents the competitive edge they need to get good-paying jobs. Investments like this are a top priority to help raise Rhode Island incomes.”

In 2023 and 2024, Governor McKee invested in more than 15 new training programs through Real Jobs RI to support a wide range of education and skills training for workers in the trades.

Under Governor McKee’s FY26 budget proposal, the State would invest a total of $14 million in Real Jobs RI to train roughly 3,000 Rhode Islanders, which includes the Governor’s proposed enhancement of $2.3 million. 

“The Rhode to Prosperity Plan is all about building a stronger, more resilient Rhode Island—one where businesses can grow, workers can thrive, and our economy remains competitive,” said Matthew Weldon, RI Department of Labor & Training Director. “Thanks to the leadership and collaboration of great partners like MRC and SENDIA, we’re making real strides in connecting people with high-quality jobs, supporting employers, and driving innovation across the state. Together, we’re creating opportunities that will have a lasting impact on our workforce and our communities.”



As a Real Jobs RI partner, SENEDIA leads the Rhode Island Defense Industry Partnership which brings together large and small businesses—including MRC—that support the Department of Defense and local Rhode Island colleges to provide a key pipeline of talented workers to local companies in the defense sector.

“Defense has a $7.6 billion annual economic impact in Rhode Island,” said Molly Donohue Magee, SENEDIA’s chief executive officer. “To meet the demand and maintain our state’s role as an important and essential player in our national security, we must continue to attract, train, and retain top talent, which is exactly what our Real Jobs RI program does.”

“The partnership with the Real Jobs RI program has been of great benefit to MRC. It’s been a win-win in that it not only enhances MRC’s capabilities, it has also launched successful career paths for students in the state,” said MRC President Domenic Gargano. “Over the last 10 or so years, MRC has hosted more than 60 interns. Of those 60, over 30 have been hired here at MRC and many more have gone on to be hired within our local DoD industry companies.”

“The Real Jobs RI program was critical in guiding and developing my career as an IT professional,” said Triet Nguyen, a Network Engineer at MRC. “I was able to apply and refine my skills in a real-world environment while networking and receiving mentorship by members actively involved in Rhode Island’s defense industry. Now I get to guide those interns who were in my shoes, get the experience for their future careers and be ready for the workforce.”

In addition to this investment, the Governor’s FY26 budget proposal also calls for the following workforce and career readiness investments in line with the Rhode to Prosperity initiative:

·     $2 million in additional general revenue and $4 million in Jobs Development Funds to create 1,000 new work-based learning opportunities, allowing youth to gain work experience through programs such as Real Skills for Youth and the PrepareRI High School Internship.

·     Launching Ready to Build, a signature, pre-apprenticeship pathway to the building trades at the Community College of Rhode Island with an investment of $800,000 in general revenue.



·     $2.9 million for dual and concurrent enrollment programs supported by resources from the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority. This level of support would sufficiently meet demand and make it possible for high school students to take postsecondary courses at an institution of higher education or at their high school.