Ascendium Education Group Awards $2.45 Million Grant to Polaris MEP to Expand Equitable Career Pathways in Advanced Manufacturing
Ascendium Education Group has awarded $2,455,100 to Polaris MEP to expand equitable career pathways into advanced manufacturing for justice-impacted and underserved Rhode Islanders.
The three-year initiative, “Expanding Career Pathways to Advanced Manufacturing for Justice-Impacted and Underserved Rhode Islanders,” will run from March 2026 through February 2029 and aligns with Ascendium’s Expand Opportunity strategy, which focuses, among other things, on increasing access to high-quality apprenticeship opportunities and training and supporting justice-impacted and underserved learners.
The project responds to Rhode Island’s acute manufacturing workforce shortage by strengthening the talent pipeline while opening access to high-wage, high-demand careers for individuals who have been historically excluded from opportunity.
Grant funding will support the launch of new Registered Apprenticeships in Machine Operator, Tool Maker, and CNC Machinist roles—expanding apprenticeship utilization in a sector where it has been historically underused. Polaris MEP will also register JARC RI’s Careers in Manufacturing programs and CCRI’s Fast Track to Manufacturing (FTM) as Pre-Apprenticeships, creating a direct and supported pathway into Registered Apprenticeships for program graduates, in partnership with Apprenticeship RI.
In addition, the initiative will expand and sustain advanced manufacturing training pathways in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC), CCRI and New England Institute of Technology. For those trainees in the RIDOC program, they will also receive support from Phoenix Odyssey and the Reentry Campus Program, which help recently incarcerated individuals continue their education and strengthen their role in the community.
Participants in the program will earn industry-recognized credentials and receive continuous case management, job placement support, and barrier-reduction assistance, including transportation support, housing stabilization, and stipends. Polaris MEP will also deepen employer engagement through fair-chance hiring initiatives, supporting manufacturers in adopting inclusive hiring practices and improving employee retention.
The project strengthens collaboration among Rhode Island manufacturers, RIDOC, the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, the Rhode Island Office of Postsecondary Commissioner (RIOPC), and community-based organizations, positioning Polaris MEP as a statewide intermediary for equitable manufacturing workforce development.
“This grant allows us to significantly scale proven workforce pathways that connect Rhode Islanders—including justice-impacted learners—to in-demand advanced manufacturing careers. Through apprenticeships, employer partnerships, and barrier-reduction supports, we are strengthening both individual economic mobility and the state’s manufacturing sector,” said Lindsey Brickle, Director, Workforce and Communication Partnerships, Polaris MEP.
“Apprenticeships have the potential to open doors to high-quality careers, but too often those pathways remain out of reach for the learners who could benefit most,” says Brittany Corde, Senior Program Officer at Ascendium. “This partnership with Polaris MEP demonstrates how employer engagement, fair-chance hiring, and structured apprenticeship pathways can work together to create real economic mobility for justice-impacted learners while meeting urgent workforce needs. By aligning pre-apprenticeships, employer partnerships, and comprehensive supports, Polaris MEP is building a coordinated system that expands access, strengthens retention, and strengthens Rhode Island’s advanced manufacturing workforce.”
About Polaris MEP
Polaris MEP helps Rhode Island manufacturers and tech companies overcome growth challenges by providing technical assistance and workforce support. By listening to their partners and the communities they serve, Polaris MEP creates economic prosperity for both individuals and businesses in Rhode Island.
About Ascendium Education Group
Ascendium Education Group® is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization driven by the belief that learning after high school gives people the power to build better futures. Our national philanthropy focuses on increasing opportunities for learners from low-income backgrounds to achieve upward mobility through postsecondary education and workforce training. We partner with organizations whose objectives align with our core strategies to expand opportunity, support learner success, and connect and align systems. Our grantees include postsecondary education and workforce training providers, intermediaries, researchers, and media organizations from across the U.S. To learn more, visit ascendiumphilanthropy.org.