Governor McKee, DLT announce “Back To Business” Initiative

The plans seeks to aid employers finding trouble navigating this current labor shortage.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – Governor Dan McKee, alongside the Department of Labor and Training, announced a $4.5 million “Back To Business” plan on Tuesday to help business owners in recruiting and retaining employees during this national labor shortage.

These funds will come in the form of grants, which can be used for various hiring opportunities such as new hire incentives, sign-on bonuses, referral programs, and recruitment material.

The applications open November 4, at 9 a.m., and close November 12 at 4 p.m. The application process and release of funds will be handled and reviewed by both DLT and Skills For Rhode Island’s Future.

The grant funding is a first come-first serve basis and there are requirements to be able to access the funds. According to the Governor’s office, grant funding will be available to businesses with 200 or fewer employees, who have lost employees as a result of the pandemic and continue to see noticeable business interruptions as a result. There is a cap at $5,000 per employer, and for recruitment efforts $1,000 per employee.

“Our administration has worked closely with the business community throughout the pandemic. We have listened to concerns from employers who are having trouble finding workers and believe the Back to Business initiative is an innovate approach to get Rhode Island back to work,” Governor McKee said. “Our team worked with the Department of Labor and Training to find a solution that would benefit both employers and employees. There is no single answer to this nationwide workforce challenge, but we believe the Back to Business initiative is part of the solution.”

“The Back to Business initiative will assist in the state’s continued economic recovery. We’ve added thousands of jobs to the labor force over the past several months and this program will ensure our progress continues… This initiative continues to set Rhode Island apart from the country as a leader in economic recovery post-pandemic. I would like to thank Governor McKee for taking action on this important issue,” said DLT Director Matthew Weldon.