Senator Jack Reed to announce new federal funding at International Yacht Restoration School

U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) will join the staffs of the International Yacht Restoration School and the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation to announce new federal funding he secured to help establish the IYRS Composites Technology program, a job training program that is the first of its kind in the nation.

Reed, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured half a million dollars in the fiscal year 2010 appropriations spending bill to help establish this program, which will train skilled technicians and innovators for industries that are central to the State's economic development-including marine, wind energy, and construction. This training program will also open opportunities for individuals in search of retraining for the advanced manufacturing sector that is a key area of development for the future of Rhode Island.

The IYRS Composites Technology Program will be offered at the school's teaching facility in Bristol (R.I.) beginning in September 2010. The nine-month program is the first of its kind, due to its length, in-depth curriculum, and emphasis on teaching both hands-on practical skills and the theory behind this widely used technology.

According to the American Composites Manufacturers Association, in the U.S. alone the composites industry employs some 550,000 people and generates almost $70 billion in revenues per year. The marine industry-an industry that accounts for $1.6 billion in sales in Rhode Island-was an early pioneer in the use of modern composites.

Speakers who will discuss the importance of this job training program for the State's economy and for Rhode Islanders in search of job retraining opportunities will include:

- U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI)

- Keith Stokes, Executive Director, RIEDC

- Terry Nathan, President, IYRS

WHEN:

Monday, March 15 / 11:00 AM

WHERE:

Yacht Restoration School / Bristol Campus

(253 Franklin Street, Bristol, R.I.)

Click here for more information on the IYRS Composites Technology Program (9 months)