In a Move of Unprecendented Cooperation, RI Business Community to Protest Elimination of Funding for 2010 Workforce Training Grant on Thursday, April 29 at 4:00pm
Click here for the .pdf Press Release
Contact: Linda Kleineberg 401-539-2392
Wyoming, RI, April 26, 2010: The Rhode Island Business Community will be holding a Press Conference and Rally on Thursday, April 29 in the Rotunda of the Rhode Island State House to demand that funding be restored to the Governor's Workforce Training Grant program and to denounce recent anti-growth, anti-business actions taken by the Rhode Island General Assembly.
Local business owner, Karl Wadensten of VIBCO Vibrators (Wyoming, RI) is organizing this event along with unprecedented cooperation between business and labor. Not since the collapse of workman's compensation reform have business leaders in Rhode Island marched on the state house.
"This is about the whole business community coming together, with one voice, to demand that the General Assembly stop its pattern of anti-business, anti-growth decision-making," says event organizer, Karl Wadensten. "The GWB Training grants are exactly the right kind of investment to pull our economy back from the brink of disaster. We need to help employers grow so we can get the 12.5% employed back to work and turn this thing around."
Wadensten's company, VIBCO Vibrators, is a past recipient of a Governor’s Workforce Training Grant. VIBCO used the grant to train its entire workforce on Lean Manufacturing. As a result, VIBCO has had zero layoffs throughout the economic downturn, has hired 3 new employees this month, and plans to hire at least two additional employees in the third quarter of 2010.
VIBCO has opened its doors to provide Lean training to more than 295 area business leaders, more than 2,500 area employees, and dozens of public officials at no charge. VIBCO's President’s Events, titled “Learning to See” are offered every 6-8 weeks. The events are always fully booked at 50 attendees, with wait lists at least that long.
"This isn’t about partisan politics anymore… this is about saving our state and changing how the folks up on Smith Hill make decisions. That's why traditional adversaries are putting their differences aside to come together on this issue. It's critically important that our legislators understand that the only way to create jobs, increase revenue, and fix Rhode Island's budget crisis is by helping businesses grow. That’s exactly why we have been training people for free at our plant. It's absolutely the wrong decision to pull these funds."
Event organizers are expecting at least 200 members of the Rhode Island business community to attend the Press Conference. Speakers will include Karl Wadensten (President of VIBCO Vibrators), George Nee (President of the RI AFL-CIO), along with several area business owners who will testify to the positive impact of the Workforce Training Grants.
For more information, contact Linda Kleineberg or Karl Wadensten at VIBCO (401) 539-2392.
LIST OF PREVIOUS WORKFORCE TRAINING GRANT RECIPIENTS
A.B. Munroe Diary
A.T. Cross Co.
Admiral Packaging, Inc.
Advanced Financial Services, Inc.
Alga Plastics
Allesco Industries, Inc.
American Ecotech
AMTROL, Inc.
Anthony V. Ricci, CPA, Inc.
Arts & Business Council of RI, Inc.
Assisted Daily Living Inc.
Astro-Med, Inc.
AT/SCAN
Autocrat, Inc.
Berry Plastics Tapes and Coatings
Big Sisters of Rhode Island
Black Dog Corporation
Blackstone Academy Chart School
Blow Molded Specialties
Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI
Bouckaert Industrial Textiles
Bradford Soap Works, Inc.
Calise & Sons Bakery, Inc.
Capital City Community Centers
Carousel industrys of NA, Inc.
Central Falls Detention Facilities Corp
Chamber Education Foundation
ChemArt Company
Child Care Connection
Citizens Bank of RI
Concordia Manufacturing, LLC
Cooley Group, Inc
Corliss Institute
Cornerstone Adult Services
Coventry Credit Uniion
Cox Communications
Creative Computing, Inc.
Credit Union Central Falls
Crossroads RI
CVS Highlander Charter School
Dama Jewelry Technology, Inc.
Darrow Everett
Dexter Credit Union
DiLeonardo Internation, Inc.
Dimeo Construction Co.
Disant, Priest & Co.
Donada, Inc.
Durkee, Brown, Viveiros & Werefels Architects
East Bay Community Action Program
EFD, Inc.
Elizabeth Buffum Chase Center
Epoxies, Etc.
Family Resources Community Action
Fielding Manufacturing, Inc.
Freedom National Bank
G.T. Safety Products, Inc.
Gas Doctor, LLC
General Dymanics IT
General Dynamics Electric Boat
Geo. H. Fuller & Son
Goldline Contols
Groov-Pin Corp
Healthy Babies, Happy Moms, Inc.
Herff Jones, Inc.
Hexagon Metrology, Inc.
Hunt Yachts, Inc.
Hyman Brickle & Sons, Inc
Independence Financial Partners
Jade Engineered Plastics, Inc.
Jeweleres Board of Trade
Kahn, Litwin, Renza & Co, Ltd.
Kenney Manufacturing
Kent House
Kids Klub, Inc.
Landmark Aviation
LDC, Inc.
LFI, Inc.
Lightship Group, LLC
Little Rhody Machine Repair, Inc.
M & G Trucking & Transportation
M.H. Stallman Company
Mahr Federal, Inc.
Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America
Mearthane Products Corporation
Millwork One
Monarch Industries, Inc.
Moran Shipping Agencies
Murdock Webbing Company, Inc.
NBC10WJAR
Neighborhood Health Plan of RI
New England Boatworks
New England Microweld
New England Pest Control
New England Woodworking
NGC, Inc.
North Star Marketing, Inc.
OAR Moldworks
Oracle Lends Manufacturing
Overhead Door Company of Provience, Inc.
Packaging Concepts, Ltd.
Parkinson Machinery and Manufacturing
Perspectives Corp.
Polytop Corp.
Portola Tech Industries
Pot Au Feu Restaurant
Priority Management Group, Inc.
Providence Biltmore Hotel
Qualified Resources International
Quality Partners of RI
Quartermood
Quick Fab Corporation
Re-Focus, Inc.
RGP Denal, Inc.
RI Community Action Assocation
RI Hospital Education Foundation
RI Manufacturing Extension Services
RI Marines Trades Assocation
RI Network for Educational Technology
RI Quality Partners
RI Zoological Society
Riverwood Mental Health Services
Robinson Green Bernetta Corporation
Saccoccio & Assocaties, Inc.
SEA Coproation
Sojourner House
Sophia Academy
Soutside Community Land Trust
Sperian Protection
Spurwink/RI
T.E.A.M., Inc.
Taco, Inc.
Taylor Box Co.
Technic-Engineered Powders Divison
The Bosworth Company
The Chemical Company
The Insurance Store, Inc.
The lightship Group
The Town Dock
The Wolf School
Thielsch Engineering
Tiffany & Company
Tim Horton's (New England)
Umicore Indium Products
Urgent Medical Care
VIBCO
Walco Electric Company
Warren Electric Corp.
Wolverine Joining Technologies
Workplace Dynamics Inc.
Ximedica, LLC
Yushin America, Inc.
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