Grants suspended to Rhode Island group tied to ex-lawmaker

May 6, 2016 1:05 pm

By The Associated Press

news@abc6.com

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) _ Rhode Island officials are suspending grants to an organization closely tied to a powerful lawmaker after he resigned Tuesday amid a federal investigation.

The state Department of Labor and Training is auditing and suspending about $241,000 in job-training grants awarded to Man Up Inc., an affiliate of Alternative Educational Programming.

It’s also trying to better understand how the two groups are affiliated.

Former House Finance Chairman Raymond Gallison, a Bristol Democrat who resigned Tuesday because of a federal investigation, is a longtime executive of AEP, which was funded through grants approved by the General Assembly.

It’s unclear if either organization is being investigated by federal authorities.

Man Up says it’s declining comment until the audit is completed. Gallison also has declined comment.