RIMTA accepting applications for expanded marine trades summer training programs

The Rhode Island Marine Trades Association (RIMTA) has expanded its summer training programs to give adults, college-age students and local youth the skills and knowledge they need to begin career paths in the marine trades and composites industries. Both industries have a high concentration of activity in Rhode Island, and the state is known worldwide for its boatbuilding and composites expertise.

Three different programs will be offered this summer, including the Marine Trades & Composites Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program for Rhode Island residents over age 18 looking to gain skills for entry-level jobs; the Summer Marketing Internship Program for college-age students interested in marketing careers in the recreational boating industry; and the Youth Summer Boatbuilding Program for 14- to 16-year-olds in North Providence and the Newport areas.

Thanks to support from local industry and organizations such as Real Jobs Rhode Island, the Governor’s Workforce Board and the Workforce Partnership of Greater Rhode Island, these programs are free to participants.

• Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program: The Marine Trades & Composites Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program begins mid-July and runs for seven weeks. This hands-on program gives Rhode Island residents who are over age 18 the skills needed for entry-level jobs in a wide range of areas — from carpentry to rigging, painting, composites, marine systems and other areas — as well as on-the-job experience in a short-term internship. This innovative program has given a wide range of individuals a start on a career path — from recent high school graduates to individuals in mid-career and military veterans looking to transfer their skills to a job working around the waterfront and boats. Employers in Rhode Island value this program as a resource for entry-level employees who are willing to work hard and learn. The last three sessions of the program achieved a 96 percent job-placement rate and an 89 percent one-year job retention rate.
• Summer Marketing Internship Program: The Summer Marketing Internship Program is for college-age students interested in a marketing career in the recreational boating industry. The program — which is held at Salve Regina University and is run in conjunction with an instructor from the University of Rhode Island — gives participants experience in marketing, public relations and event planning and combines classroom sessions with on-the-job experience with local marine companies. The program begins on July 6 and runs for six weeks.The marketing program is now in its third year, and many graduates have started their career path in the recreational boating industry through their internships. The marine trades workforce is graying, and this program fills an important need to attract young, talented individuals to market this statewide industry.
• Youth Summer Boatbuilding Program: The Youth Summer Boatbuilding Program has been expanded this year to two locations: Newport and North Providence. The program is a great way for students age 14 to 16 to learn about the local marine industry and its careers while having fun completing a hands-on boatbuilding project. The program includes training in basic hands-on skills combined with career exploration, leadership development and adult mentoring. The boatbuilding programs start in July and run for six weeks. The Newport program is run in partnership with the Newport Area Career & Technical Center and is open to 14- to 16-year-old students who reside in Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, Tiverton and Jamestown. The North Providence program will be run at North Providence High School and is open to students from North Providence.

For more information and to find links to applications, visit the RIMTA website at www.rimta.org and click on “Train for a MarineCareer” under the Careers & Training Tab. Interested participants can also contact RIMTA for more information at info@rimta.org or 401-396-9619.