FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 21, 2022
Media Contact: Alex Hand, NK Chamber of Commerce
401.295.5566
North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce’s WindWinRI providing SPRAT Trainings (Rope Access Technician Certification) for dozens of Rhode Island Residents
North Kingstown, RI- The North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce continues to be a leader of a consortium of education, training, and business partners dedicated to designing and implementing a strategic, demand-driven career pathway training system, WindWinRI, that meets the employments needs of Rhode Island businesses. NKCC’s innovative system for capacity building has made available professional credentials for local students and incumbent workers for long-lasting placements within the offshore wind energy industry.
Through a Real Jobs RI grant, the North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce WindWinRI program will be offering SPRAT Level 1 (working at heights/rope access technician) trainings for dozens of Rhode Island residents who meet the eligible criteria, at KONG, USA in Bristol, Rhode Island. SPRAT- The Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians is an organization that advances the safe use of rope access through education, standards, development, and certification administration.
The classes (each a week-long) include the SPRAT training modules such as: evaluation, equipment use, and inspection of requirements for safe work practices, duties, and responsibilities, ascending and descending deviations, and long and short rebelay, rope to rope transfer, rescue pick offs, and evaluation. These trainings provide adults an advantage to entering the offshore wind industry as they are required to be employed as offshore wind technicians (the 2nd fastest growing job in the U.S. according to the U.S. Department of Labor and Statistics), bridge inspections and engineering, welding, painting, torquing, theatrical rigging, technical rescue, arboriculture, historic preservation, building façade maintenance, and more. As noted, the skills sets that the students gain are transferable to other industries.
“Offshore wind is an important part of the state’s economy and a critical piece of our efforts to combat climate change. We are excited to support the WindWinRI program as part of Real Jobs RI to help ensure Rhode Islanders can get the skills, they need to land jobs in this dynamic industry,” said DLT Director Matthew Weldon. “I encourage anyone who is interested to get in contact with the program.”
As the first class filled quickly, there are three remaining SPRAT classes available during the month of October and early next year. If interested in learning more and to apply for a SPRAT class, please visit www.windwinri.com or contact info@northkingstown.com. Additionally, this October, the North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce will be hosting an Open House at KONG, USA in Bristol for people who are interested in learning more about the SPRAT Certification program.
The North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce is one of Rhode Island’s leading business membership and trade organizations located in North Kingstown, RI that includes the Quonset Business Park that employs more than 10,000 people within over 200 businesses. Quonset, the home to Port Davisville, has served as the staging, storage, and assembly area for wind turbine equipment.
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