Training Resources and Funding Within Reach
With the right skills, your team can meet the requirements of an ever-shifting marketplace.
As the Manufacturing Sector Workforce Intermediary for Real Jobs RI, Polaris MEP is poised to address your company’s workforce needs by providing new hire placement and training assistance and/or incumbent worker trainings. Both services are highly customizable to ensure you are obtaining and retaining people with the skills that fit your needs.
Polaris MEP supports several intensive hands-on skills training programs for organizations that train unemployed and underemployed Rhode Islanders in a variety of manufacturing-based careers. These trainings include welding/fabrication, machining, and marine trades. As such, local companies gain access to a pool of individuals prepared with the technical and soft skills necessary to advance your business.
Incumbent worker training is vital to retaining current employees, adding to their skill sets, and raising their performance levels is essential to growing your business. By instilling a culture of continuous improvement, your team will always be ready to tackle the advanced manufacturing challenges of the future.
I see training as critical to helping our business push into new markets. The team at Polaris MEP has been great to work with for many years. Their services such as Job Instruction and skills training help us stay competitive and grow.
Mary Jane Connell
Human Resources Manager,
Colonial Mills, Inc.
Your Biggest Challenges Solved
Hire & Retain Talent
Market Competitiveness
Improve Quality
How We Help
ON-THE-JOB TRAINING
Training is vital to retaining current employees. Polaris MEP helps you get those employees ready to tackle tomorrow’s manufacturing challenges, today.
On-site, in-context training customized to your needs:
- lean enterprise,
- continuous improvement,
- quality and management systems,
- succession planning,
- and many other critical skillsets.
CONNECTED RESOURCES
Polaris MEP is a direct line to get manufacturers the hiring and training support they need.
We are the Manufacturing Sector partner for the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training and its Real Jobs RI programs.
Polaris MEP also supports several intensive skills training programs that train unemployed/ underemployed Rhode Islanders for manufacturing careers.
GRANT FUNDING
The Governor’s Workforce Board (GWB) Incumbent Worker Training Grant Program is funded by the Job Development Fund (JDF). This program provides matching grants to businesses to increase the skills of current employees.
Polaris MEP can help you satisfy application requirements and acquire funding for hiring and training.
PUBLIC WORKSHOPS
Polaris MEP provides a variety of ways to help your team informed on the latest tools and techniques, or brush up on the essentials.
Join us for
- webinars,
- workshops,
- lunch & learns,
- bus tours and more.
A Direct Connection to Development Resources
- Polaris MEP works closely with the RI Department of Labor & Training, as well as numerous Workforce Development organizations. Our access is your access.
- Training programs conducted by seasoned manufacturing veterans.
- Boost your competitiveness and future-proof your team with continuous development and long term learning plans.
Related
Rhode Island Manufacturers: Claim Tariff Refunds—But Stay Alert to Scams
Rhode Island Manufacturers: Claim Tariff Refunds—But Stay Alert to Scams Rhode Island’s manufacturing community—made up largely of small and mid-sized businesses—is no stranger to navigating rising costs and global trade challenges. Now, there’s a potential...
Polaris MEP Releases 2025 State of Manufacturing Report for Rhode Island
Polaris MEP Releases 2025 State of Manufacturing Report for Rhode Island Polaris MEP is proud to announce the release of the 2025 State of Manufacturing Rhode Island Report, a comprehensive look at the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping one of the Ocean...
Integrated Operational Excellence
A Practical System to Improve Performance, Develop People, and Sustain ResultsPolaris MEP's integrated solution helps manufacturers achieve measurable and sustainable improvements in productivity, quality, and workforce effectiveness by addressing both the technical...
Retraining your current employees can help retain workers and avoid a gap in skilled labor. With training, these employees can learn the skills necessary to continue and advance in their roles, while also advancing your company’s bottom line.
Lindsey Brickle
Workforce Program Manager, Polaris MEP
Category: Workforce Development
The Warehouse Safety Audit: 5 Common Fire Risks You’re Probably Missing
Fire protection in warehouses is not just about sprinklers; it requires ongoing planning, training, and practice to maintain system effectiveness. The best way to address common issues is by embedding fire safety into facility culture.
NIST Researchers Develop Photonic Chip Packaging That Can Withstand Extreme Environments
NIST scientists have developed a new process for packaging photonic integrated circuits so they can survive and operate in some of the most extreme environments imaginable.
Bridging the Warehouse Labor Gap: Untapped Talent and Smarter Strategies
Open positions far outnumber available candidates… at least among the traditional talent pool. The good news is that the labor pool is deeper than most think. By looking beyond the usual candidates and tapping into overlooked populations, warehouses can not only fill jobs but also boost retention, productivity and even safety.
Take the Polaris MEP Artificial Intelligence Mini Survey
AI is quickly becoming a key area of exploration for many businesses. However, understanding how companies are actually using—or planning to use—AI is critical to ensuring the right support and resources are available.
Announcement: BlueTIDE Registration is Now Open
This premier event brings together innovators, industry leaders, government stakeholders, and researchers to showcase cutting-edge maritime and dual-use technologies through live, mission-driven demonstrations.
Growing Second-Stage Food Business in Rhode Island Report
Rhode Island’s vibrant food ecosystem has fostered many food manufacturing startups, but few are growing to become larger businesses with significant sales and employment. This research explores why food businesses often plateau and identifies the challenges they face in transitioning from startups to second-stage businesses.
Polaris MEP Releases 2025 State of Manufacturing Report for Rhode Island
The 2025 report combines multiple sources, including industry trend analysis, the Voice of Manufacturing Survey (VOMS), and insights from manufacturers, policymakers, and community leaders.
Integrated Operational Excellence
This integrated solution helps manufacturers achieve measurable and sustainable improvements in productivity, quality, and workforce effectiveness by addressing both the technical and human sides of operations.
Safety Consulting
Our safety programs are designed for small-to-medium manufacturers in Rhode Island and focus on the most common types of incidents and OSHA violations.
Nterprisers Develops New Marketplace with Polaris MEP Project Manager’s Help
Chris Cinieri, Polaris MEP Project Manager, helped Nterprisers develop their new Marketplace to help meet manufacturers’s needs.




