{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/rhode-island-congressional-delegation-announces-4-6-million-for-uri-ccri-engineering-workforce-development-program/", "Rhode Island Congressional Delegation Announces $4.6 Million for URI, CCRI Engineering Workforce Development Program", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Sheldon Whitehouse", "W000802", "www.whitehouse.senate.gov", "whitehouse", "https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release", "scraper", "PROVIDENCE, RI \u2014 As demand grows for skilled engineers and technicians to power Rhode Island\u2019s advanced manufacturing, marine, and clean energy sectors, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Representatives Seth Magaziner (RI-02) and Gabe Amo (RI-01) announced $4,619,389 of federal funding awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to the University of Rhode Island, in partnership with the Community College of Rhode Island, to support scholarships for high-achieving, low-income students pursuing degrees in engineering and engineering technology.\n\nThe program stands to benefit workforce development across multiple sectors, including Rhode Island\u2019s blue economy and advanced manufacturing industry. It is set to begin in January.\n\n\u201cThis is a wise investment in individuals, Rhode Island\u2019s workforce, and American science and engineering expertise, which is increasingly critical for our economy and national defense. Helping smart kids afford an engineering degree is a win-win. They get the skills that put them on promising career pathways for critical, in-demand jobs and America stays competitive,\u201d said Senator Reed.\n\n\u201cRhode Island\u2019s institutions of higher education are on the leading edge of STEM innovation and help power the Ocean State\u2019s economic competitiveness,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse. \u201cThis federal funding will create opportunities for deserving Rhode Island students to follow their dreams at URI and CCRI.\u201d\n\n\u201cRhode Island needs more engineers, and this funding will help make sure that talented students across our state have a real shot at that career, no matter their financial background,\u201d said Rep. Magaziner. \u201cI am proud to work alongside the Rhode Island Congressional delegation to deliver the funding needed to support workforce training here in the Ocean State.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to work alongside our Rhode Island Delegation to expand opportunity for talented students at the University of Rhode Island and the Community College of Rhode Island,\u201d said Rep. Amo. \u201cThis federal funding will remove financial barriers for students and set them up for good-paying engineering jobs that will power Rhode Island\u2019s economy of tomorrow.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis project will help reduce the financial burden for students pursuing an engineering degree and, ultimately, the amount of debt they may carry after graduation,\u201d said Vinka Craver, associate dean for research at URI\u2019s College of Engineering and Principal Investigator on the NSF grant. \u201cBut the program goes beyond financial support. From their first year, students will have access to faculty and industry mentors and opportunities to participate in internships and capstone projects, helping them build the experience and connections they need to be better prepared for their professional careers.\u201d\n\n\u201cCost should never stand between a talented student and their future. This grant makes that future possible for Rhode Island students pursuing degrees in engineering and engineering technology. Through our partnership with URI, we\u2019re building a talent pipeline into the advanced manufacturing, marine, and clean energy jobs that are shaping Rhode Island\u2019s economy,\u201d said Rosemary A. Costigan, Ph.D., RN, president of the Community College of Rhode Island. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to Senators Reed and Whitehouse and Representatives Magaziner and Amo for their continued investment in our students and our state\u2019s workforce future.\u201d\n\nA total of 116 scholars pursuing associate\u2019s degrees in engineering technology at CCRI and bachelor\u2019s degrees in engineering and engineering technology at URI will receive scholarships for up to five years, along with mentoring and other support services designed to improve retention and graduation rates.\n\nThe award is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) as part of NSF\u2019s Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) program, which supports the retention and graduation of academically talented, low-income students with demonstrated financial need in STEM fields. The project, entitled \u201cCollaborative Research: Advancing Pathways through a Multi-Institutional Consortium for Engineering Education and Workforce Development,\u201d will be evaluated on an ongoing basis to help identify effective strategies for supporting low-income students in STEM.", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/rhode-island-congressional-delegation-announces-4-6-million-for-uri-ccri-engineering-workforce-development-program/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.7934083007276058, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}