Jun 13, 2025 RIBBA Launches Emerging Leaders Development Program in Pawtucket to Address Skills Gap
RIBBA proudly announces the expansion of its flagship Emerging Leaders Development Program to the City of Pawtucket. The Emerging Leaders Development Program is a 7-month cohort-based program designed to provide participants who live or work in Rhode Island with additional knowledge, skills, and tools needed to advance in their careers. Pawtucket marks the first Rhode Island city to partner with RIBBA to implement the program locally—setting a powerful precedent for other municipalities to follow.
“In today’s dynamic economy, learning is one of the most powerful ways to ensure your workforce pipeline can meet a company’s current and future needs,” said Lisa Ranglin, President & CEO of RIBBA. “With our customized training solutions, we help companies build agile, future-ready teams. We’re thrilled that Pawtucket is the first city to seize this opportunity fully. We hope that cities across the state will follow suit.”
The Pawtucket Cohort was launched on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, marking a pivotal step in addressing the state’s widening workforce skills gap—an issue hindering economic growth and opportunity. The most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that as of February 2025, there were 27,000 open jobs in Rhode Island. However, according to the Department of Labor and Training Local Area Unemployment Statistics Report, Rhode Island also has around 25,600 individuals currently unemployed. Even if every job seeker were hired, positions would still go unfilled. And of those seeking work, many do not meet the qualifications required for these available roles.
RIBBA’s Emerging Leaders Development Program is designed to directly address this gap by preparing high-performing professionals from Rhode Island communities for advancement into leadership roles while raising their visibility as a force within their organizations and across Rhode Island.
“We are thrilled for the 2025 cohort of RIBBA’s Pawtucket Emerging Leaders who will be participating in an amazing 7-month learning and leadership building experience,” said Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien. “Thanks to RIBBA, these diverse young Pawtucket leaders will learn about communication, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence. Skills that will help in their careers while also making them better advocates and better leaders. We deeply appreciate RIBBA’s continued partnership with us on this great free program for Pawtucket residents.”
Program Highlights Include:
- Customized Needs Assessments to identify skill gaps and business goals
- Personalized Training Plans using workshops and hands-on modules
- On-the-Job and Incumbent Worker Training
- Expert Instructors from both industry and academia
- Flexible Delivery options: onsite, offsite, or virtual to meet business needs
Since its inception four years ago, RIBBA’s workforce development programming has trained more than 240 professionals from entities including Citizens Bank, Navigant Credit Union, Bank of America, Bristol County Savings Bank, Amica Insurance, Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI, Neighborhood Health Plan of RI, Brown University, Care New England, IGT, Bally’s, Santander Bank, Crossroads RI, Washington Trust and more.
Each year, the program has delivered measurable impact and outcomes:
- Over 30% of participants in Cohort 4 received promotions and/or salary increases before the program concluded
- 98% graduation rate across all cohorts
- 50% of all graduates are employed in key industries such as healthcare, finance, and technology
- To date:
- 1,260 mentorship hours
- 896 training hours
- 614 hours of career coaching and emotional intelligence training
- Participant salaries ranged from $60,000 to $208,000, with an average salary across four cohorts of $86,470.83
In Cohort 4 alone, 55% of participants were homeowners, reflecting economic stability and upward mobility
This program is more than just leadership training—it is a powerful tool for closing the wealth gap, creating fair and sustainable career pathways, and building resilient local economies. RIBBA works closely with employers to upskill current employees, reskill new hires, and create a pipeline of talent equipped for long-term success. Current participants in the pilot program from the City of Pawtucket come from organizations such as Washington Trust, Bristol County Savings Bank, Centreville Bank, Santander Bank, Coastal1 Credit Union, Nowell Academy, Farm Fresh Rhode Island, and more.
Join the Movement
RIBBA invites cities and other corporations across Rhode Island to partner in bringing this impactful programming to their workforce. Funding resources are available to help businesses offset the cost of training and workforce development. To learn more about how your city or organization can get involved, contact RIBBA directly at info@ribba.org.