New England Institute of Technology and General Dynamics Electric Boat Expand Workforce Training Facilities
New England Council members New England Institute of Technology (NEIT) and General Dynamics Electric Boat recently announced a major expansion of their workforce training partnership. Their Warwick campus is growing from 30,000 square feet to 100,000 square feet and will serve as Electric Boat’s primary workforce training site in Rhode Island.
The expanded facility, known as the Shipbuilding Advanced Institute for Learning (SAIL), will train around 3,000 incoming employees each year for at least the next three years. There will be hands-on and classroom instruction in trades including welding, machining, painting, and electrical work, and existing employees will receive ongoing training and recertification. The programming is supported by $20 million from U.S. Navy’s Submarine Industrial Base and $25 million from General Dynamics Electric Boat.
“As submarine production accelerates, workforce development has emerged as one of the greatest challenges,” said Richard Gouse, President of New England Institute of Technology. “Our strong relationship with Electric Boat creates a direct pathway into skilled, good-paying manufacturing careers and is yet another example of how New England Tech prepares its graduates for careers the marketplace demands.”
With Electric Boat looking to hire 8,000 new employees, the expanded training space will increase capacity to prepare workers for these positions. The New England Council congratulates the New England Institute of Technology and General Dynamics Electric Boat on the expansion and their continued partnership to prepare workers for careers in Rhode Island’s manufacturing and defense industries.