By Shannon Holmes
January 16, 2006

Providence Mayor David Cicilline opened the Providence Skills Center January 10 as a result of the partnership between the city, Providence/Cranston Workforce Solutions, local businesses and the National Retail Federation (NRF). The Providence Skills Center is part of a national model created by the NRF Foundation and is the only one of its kind in New England. The Providence Skills Center is a highly visible recruitment, training and placement facility operating in a large shopping center as part of public employment services.

“This is an exciting day, not just for Providence, but for the entire region,” said Cicilline. “We are pleased to work with the National Retail Federation’s Foundation and our other partners to provide this service to the community. This Center will help us as we reach out to target populations, such as our youth, our seniors and new immigrants, all of who want promising jobs and exciting careers,” he added.

Providence provided built out space, furnishings and equipment for the training center. The Providence Skills Center is located in the Providence Place Mall, which is operated by General Growth Properties and is providing the space rent free. As a result, the Providence Place retailers will have access to a pool of potential employees to choose from who have a national certification in customer service. The Providence Skills Center is funded in part by NRF, which was awarded a High Growth Job Initiatives U.S. Department of Labor grant to assist employers to develop career paths for employees in the retail industry.

The model of the skill centers build workforce and career development capacity through a unique partnership of employers, local government, shopping center developers, schools and colleges and community associations.

“This is a great example, of the importance of connecting local workforce board’s activities with economic development. This program will provide employers with a trained workforce,” added Cicilline.

The center offers classes on computers, English as a Second Language, career counseling, and workshops on customer service. Additionally the center also offers the new National Professional Certification in Customer Service assessment, a credential endorsed by retailers that signifies skills and knowledge to provide excellent customer service on the job, an added bonus to employers.

The relationship between NRF and Providence was initiated as a result of a presentation by NRF on the new National Professional Certification in Customer Service assessment at the 2005 Winter Meeting of the Conference of Mayors Workforce Development Council, of which Providence is a member.