Building Futures launched in 2007 as a construction industry partnership focused on leveraging the Registered Apprenticeship model of workforce development. For over 100 years, unions and employers have jointly operated quality registered apprenticeships in  construction occupations to train individuals as highly-skilled tradespeople. Our work spans three distinct but highly aligned areas.

For the benefit of low-income Rhode Islanders, Building Futures developed and operates a comprehensive pre-apprenticeship program to prepare diverse, low-income men and women for success in employment as registered apprentices in the building trades. In addition, we work in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that construction projects provide employment opportunities for apprentices at the appropriate level to meet future demand for skilled labor through our Apprentice Utilization Program. Our pre-apprenticeship and apprentice utilization program together provide an effective system for workforce development in Rhode Island’s construction sector.

From this foundation, we have established Apprenticeship Rhode Island, an initiative to expand the use of Registered Apprenticeship beyond the construction sector. Now, we are helping to develop new registered apprenticeship programs in multiple sectors, which include healthcare, information technology, advanced manufacturing and green/plant-based occupations, among others. Working with employers, industry partnerships, government, and community-based organizations, we are spreading this proven model of Registered Apprenticeship to benefit the state’s workforce and economy.

Apprenticeship Rhode Island, an initiative of Building Futures, works to maximize the use of the highly effective system of workforce development – Registered Apprenticeship – for the benefit of employers, government and residents of the state. Visit the ARI site to learn more.