Governor’s Goal is for Affected Workers to Remain Employed in Aquidneck Island Defense Industry
Providence, RI – Governor Lincoln D. Chafee today directed his administration to provide all available services and assistance to the employees of Advanced Solutions for Tomorrow (ASFT) who were left jobless by the company’s closing, which was announced this morning.
“Aquidneck Island’s vibrant defense industry is one of Rhode Island’s great assets and a vital sector of our economy,” Governor Chafee said. “I was saddened to learn of Advanced Solutions for Tomorrow’s sudden closing, but I am determined to help its skilled employees find work quickly. I have directed my administration to take every step possible to provide assistance to the Rhode Islanders affected by this closing and to ensure that they remain employed within the defense industry on Aquidneck Island.”
This afternoon, Governor Chafee directed two key members of his cabinet – Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC) Executive Director Keith Stokes and Department of Labor & Training (DLT) Director Charlie Fogarty – to make themselves available to the media to discuss the array of services and assistance that will be provided to the ASFT employees affected by the closing.
Among the assistance provided thus far is that of the DLT’s Rapid Response Unit, which was on-site at ASFT following this morning’s announcement. The Rapid Response Unit helps guide employees undergoing a job loss toward unemployment insurance benefits, health insurance options, available reemployment services, job search activities and, when applicable, state and federal funding opportunities.
RIEDC and DLT will also partner for a jobs search program for former ASFT employees, part of what will be an ongoing effort by the Chafee Administration to ensure that the individuals affected by the closing find reemployment in the Rhode Island defense industry.