The Rhode Island Governor’s Workforce Board administers the Incumbent Worker Training Grant Program to help eligible Rhode Island employers train and upskill current employees. The current official program page lists $1,000,000 in FY26 funding, a maximum annual award of $25,000, and reimbursement of 50% to 100% of eligible approved training costs.
The March 2026 program guide limits eligible employers to for profit or private nonprofit entities doing business in Rhode Island. Public and government entities are not eligible. Participating employers must pay into the Rhode Island Job Development Fund through unemployment insurance taxes, be in good standing with all divisions of the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training and not be prohibited from contracting with an agency administering federal funds, and have approved Ocean State Procures registration before applying.
Applications are accepted online at any time, one application should be submitted for each unique training activity, and the employer must obtain GWB approval before the training begins. Applicants are advised to apply at least three weeks before the desired training start date. No fixed application deadline, deadline time, or time zone is published.
The current guide permits eligible training costs such as qualified trainer or training provider fees, eligible tuition and fees, training materials and supplies, certain software or subscriptions used exclusively for the training, curriculum development when necessary, and conference registration when the training produces a verifiable learning outcome. It excludes employee wages, travel and lodging, grant preparation or administration, food and beverages, non-U.S. training or providers, and equipment, including hardware or software, that is not used exclusively for training. The current guide caps the grant contribution at $5,000 per trainee per year.
Atlas assessment: Atlas Opportunity Score 63/100. N9+ Fit 10/100 conditional. The Nonagon N9+ device and platform should not be positioned as a routine equipment purchase under this program; any possible role would require an applicant-defined, approved employee-training use in which the equipment is used exclusively for eligible training and all costs are accepted by GWB. QC Healthcare Fit is 25/100 conditional for a separately verified eligible healthcare workforce training service. Dr. Miltie is not being advanced as a direct applicant.
Submission: Applications are submitted through the online Incumbent Worker Training Grant application linked by the Governor’s Workforce Board. Approved applicants proceed through GWB’s contract process, and reimbursement is not available for costs incurred before the start date on the fully executed contract.
Official contact: Rhode Island Governor’s Workforce Board, 1511 Pontiac Avenue, Building 73-1, Cranston, RI 02920; 401-462-8860; dlt.gwbinfo@dlt.ri.gov.
Last verified: September 12, 2026.