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Rhode Island Nursery & Landscape Association (RINLA)

RINLA is an industry organization helping businesses and employers across agriculture and plant based industry in Rhode Island. They have recently launched a registered apprenticeship program with their member employers. RINLA offers several trainings to help prepare young professionals.

Industry focus: Plant-based careers (landscape maintenance, nursery, plant production, etc.)

Location: West Kingston, RI (training sites vary)

Phone: 401-874-5220 Email: workforce@rinla.org Website: https:/rinla.org

Trainings: Winter Intensive Training: Workers who are already Registered Apprentices work with their employers to decide if the Winter Intensive training is the right training for them. The training starts in February and includes classroom and hands-on instruction.

RI Certified Horticultural (RICH) training is held in the evenings, twice a week for 6 weeks at URI East Farm in Kingston.

Fees: The Winter Intensive training is currently free to apprentices. There is a fee for the RI Certified Horticultural training.

Application: Sign up online for RICH training at: https://rinla.org/register-for-rich-training/. Email or call RINLA for more information about the Winter Intensive training and apprenticeship.

Entry requirements:

Other services: Assistance in job placement and matching individuals with companies that have a registered apprenticeship program within their companies.

Building Futures

Building Futures is a job training program that helps low-income men and women prepare to enter one of 12 different construction apprenticeship programs. Over the last 13 years they have placed nearly 300 graduates into the skilled construction trades including as electricians, laborers, carpenters, iron workers, plumber/pipefitters, painters/tapers, brick and tile layers, sheet metal workers, etc.

Industry Focus: Commercial Construction (not house building)

Location: 1 Acorn Street, Providence

Phone: 401-919-5919 Email: info@bfri.org Website: http://www.bfri.org/apprenticeships

Training: 5 week, hands-on pre-apprenticeship training in basic construction skills. Training meets 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM five days a week and includes basic math classes and presentations by and field trips to different construction trades.

Certificates: OSHA 10, First Aid/CPR, Aerial Lift, Certificate of completion from the RI Apprenticeship Council

Fees: Free

Application: You must go to an orientation in order to receive an application. Check website for orientation dates which occur three times per year (usually January, May and September but check the website or call to be sure).

Entry requirements: GED or high school diploma, RI resident, between 18 and 35, able to pass a drug test. Prior experience is not required.

Other services for trainees: social services, financial education, welding classes (for graduates of the program), help with transitioning to construction apprenticeships.

Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship is a special type of employment where you learn the skills of your occupation through on-the-job training and related classroom instruction. You are paid as a worker but also learn necessary skills as you work beside those who are advanced in their trade. The benefits of apprenticeship are you don’t have to have skills to enter employment as a first year apprentice and you are earning a wage while you learn the skills of your trade.

The two partner agencies, Building Futures and RINLA, offer pre-apprenticeship programs that could lead to employment as apprentices in construction (Building Futures) and landscaping (RINLA).

Rhode Island also has apprenticeship programs in manufacturing, commercial fishing, information technology and more.

For a list of apprenticeship programs and more information go to the Department of Labor and Training website at: http://www.dlt.ri.gov/apprenticeship/ or contact ApprenticeshipRI at 401-919-5919.