PROVIDENCE, RI — On Feb 19th, Governor Dan McKee and Rhode Island Commerce launched the Blue Youth Innovation Grant program — a collaboration between Rhode Island Commerce, the RI Department of Labor and Training, and the Community College of Rhode Island — to increase student interest and skills in careers that support industries critical to the success of the Ocean Tech Hub. The Blue Youth Innovation Grant seeks to prepare at least 100 students for future learning and employment in up-and-coming industries critical to our national and regional economic development and security.

“Through programs like the Blue Youth Innovation Grant, we are charting a course toward a brighter and more prosperous future for Rhode Islanders through education,” said Governor Dan McKee. “Helping to advance the Ocean Tech Hub and our blue economy will help raise incomes and lead to greater economic prosperity.”

The Ocean Tech Hub was one of 31 initiatives to receive a Tech Hub designation by the Biden-Harris Administration in 2023. Its mission is to advance national and regional economic development, security, and environmental sustainability through innovative ocean technology. Core industries that support the Ocean Tech Hub include robotics, sensors, advanced materials, composites, and artificial intelligence/machine learning, with a focus on undersea applications.

The Blue Youth Innovation Grant is open to Rhode Island public high schools (including traditional local education districts, charter schools, and career and technical schools), Rhode Island-accredited higher education institutions, and Rhode Island-based employers (employers with at least 51% of employees working in Rhode Island and who are registered with the RI Secretary of State). 

Funds can be used to:

- Establish partnerships.

- Hire coordinators.

- Compensate instructors.

- Purchase materials.

- Develop coursework.

- Cover additional instructional, coordination, and related expenses.

“Rhode Island is the Ocean State, and any investment in our blue economy is an investment in our future,” said Secretary of Commerce Liz Tanner. “Creating the workforce of tomorrow starts in the classroom, and the Blue Youth Innovation Grant will help students, schools, and businesses adapt and innovate to ensure Rhode Island is the leader in ocean technology.”

"This grant is an exciting investment in the state’s evolving blue economy," said Director of RI Department of Labor & Training, Matthew Weldon. "By equipping students and workers with the skills needed for ocean technology careers, we are building a strong talent pipeline that will land good jobs in the fast-growing sector and ensure the long-term success of our Ocean Tech Hub."

“CCRI is proud to partner in this initiative to expand opportunities for students in Rhode Island’s growing ocean technology sector. As the state’s largest provider of workforce education, we are committed to equipping students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in these high-demand industries. The Blue Youth Innovation Grant will help strengthen the pipeline from education to employment, ensuring that Rhode Islanders are at the forefront of innovation in the blue economy,” added Rosemary A. Costigan, Ph.D., RN, interim president of CCRI.

The deadline to apply is Friday, March 28, 2025.

For more information on eligibility requirements and where to apply, click here.

For more information on the Ocean Tech Hub, click here.