RI giving out millions to cities and towns for 'learning centers.' Here's how they would use it.

More than two dozen Rhode Island cities and towns are planning how to spend millions in federal dollars under education initiatives aimed at pushing the state to meet Massachusetts' marks by 2030. Documents that The Providence Journal obtained through a public-records request show what exactly municipalities want to buy.

Earlier this year, the state received more than $81 million in federal funding allocated to community learning centers. Gov. Dan McKee has called on municipalities to develop these centers to increase the number of hours that kids spend learning each day. The plan, dubbed Learn365RI, is intended to expand out-of-school learning to a year-round activity. That would boost learning time without lengthening the school year.

But the centers are also required to have two other components – workforce development and health. Each city or town asking for funding must explain in their application how they would address those categories, including education.

While not all cities and towns have yet received money from the pot of federal dollars – which the state says requires them to commit to McKee's learning plan – the following have drawn up proposals for how to use their share. The list below is by no means exhaustive but sheds light on some of what applicants plan to do.

Barrington

Barrington is seeking $782,000 for its Bay Spring Community Center, where it envisions hosting job fairs, job-skills training and computer workstations with high-speed internet. It would also host health clinics for vaccinations and dental appointments, and provide other services such as mental-health awareness courses.

Bristol

Bristol wants about $1.7 million to improve its Rogers Free Library community facility. It already offers some educational opportunities, like private study spaces and workforce development, and it is hoping to expand.

One addition would be a "maker space," which Bristol's funding application describes as "a dedicated workshop ... used free of charge, allowing artists, artisans and others to use space to create things they may not have the space or resources for."

The town said it could also be used for "hands-on technical education for students."

(Bristol had also applied for funding to go toward a transformation of the old Walley School building on High Street, but it dropped the project so it could focus money on the library.)

Burrillville

Burrillville may receive $1.3 million for a community center that would cost $8.4 million. It would offer a lengthy list of services, including job-search help, job training and digital-literacy courses. Through partnerships with police and a local library, it would host other educational opportunities, such as scam-awareness sessions and research advice. With assistance from the Fire Department, the center would also offer wellness checks including blood pressure monitoring.

Central Falls

Central Falls wants $4 million to convert an old church on Broad Street to "El Centro," a community center that would host an array of programming. That includes job fairs, small-business education, meals for periods when schools are out of session, medical assistance, housing support and more.

Charlestown

Charlestown is asking for about $509,000 to expand the Cross Mills Public Library. That would entail adding private video conferencing and study spaces, continuing digital-literacy help, potentially offering various trainings such as lifeguarding and first aid. The library may also host vaccination and blood pressure clinics, and hire a teacher to oversee a homework help program.

Coventry

Coventry may receive $2.7 million to create a community center in its Town Hall annex. That would include a new computer lab, workforce development services, a career planning center, dental programs and behavioral health services. To satisfy the state's education requirement for the project, Coventry's application states the center would "promote social, emotional and behavioral health" and host a parent resource center to help families navigate their children's schooling.

Cranston

Cranston is seeking $6.9 million for a new community center at an undisclosed location that would offer an array of job training for in-demand fields such as teacher assisting and information technology. The center would also provide services for students, such as General Education Diploma courses. On health services, the city surveyed residents to find out what they need. The results showed strong demand for mental health services, followed by behavioral health and substance abuse treatment help, senior health services and women's health services.

Cumberland

Cumberland wants about $2.5 million for renovations to transform an empty building on Mill Street into a community health and outreach center. The site, adjacent to City Hall, would offer laptops, high-speed internet, job training, peer tutoring and other services. To support the town's health, the center may also offer blood pressure checks, cholesterol screening, farmers markets and fitness classes.

East Greenwich

East Greenwich is looking for around $642,000 to help pay for renovations of its Swift Community Center. It may house a computer lab, job training and a variety of courses such as driving, first aid, digital literacy and philosophy. On health, the center would expand existing programs such as blood pressure checks, skin cancer screenings and vaccine clinics.

East Providence

East Providence is planning to renovate its community center with the help of about $3.9 million in federal funds. But that would shave only a small amount off the project's $25-million cost. The center would offer job fairs, small-business seminars, computer access, various courses including GED classes, mental and behavioral health services, and fitness and nutrition classes.

Exeter

Exeter is asking for about $500,000 to help pay for a new work, education and health-resource center. The exact location was redacted from Exeter's funding application. Similar to other sites, Exeter's center would provide computers and internet access. It might also offer classes on mental-health awareness, babysitting and driver training. Additionally, the center would offer vaccination clinics and monitor diabetes and blood pressure.

Glocester and Foster

Glocester may receive about $800,000 to renovate two libraries, the Glocester/Manton Library and the Harmony Library. That would add resources such as computer help, digital-literacy education and résumé advice. The town also plans to lend out blood-pressure cuffs and host clinics as well as diet and exercise programs.

Foster may receive about $380,000 and has indicated it wishes to partner with Glocester on its project.

Hopkinton and Richmond

Hopkinton and Richmond are asking for $1.2 million for a community center at Crandall Field on which they will partner. It would host job training, encourage more women to enter the workforce and work toward reducing local unemployment. (According to the Department of Labor and Training, 86% of people employed in Hopkinton are nonresidents.) For students, the center would also offer financial-aid advice, reading and math tutoring and a homework club. Like other centers, this one also plans to offer fitness classes and mental-health resources.

Lincoln

Lincoln wants to put $1.6 million in federal money toward a new learning center that would be built on Old River Road. It would offer free broadband internet and computers as well as hosting a new incubator program for minority-owned businesses. Other programs include partnerships with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Rhode Island, self-defense classes, behavioral-health and substance-abuse help, and healthy-lifestyle initiatives.

Little Compton

Little Compton is planning to spend about $318,000 on renovating its town community center. It would feature résumé and interview help, job fairs, after-school care, a summer camp program, blood-pressure monitoring, first-aid training and nutrition advice.

New Shoreham

New Shoreham may receive about $316,000 to invest in the Block Island Community Center. It would offer free broadband, as made possible by a recently authorized bond issue, along with job placement and skills training. The town said it is "exploring" the hosting of certification programs for nursing assistants and home health care aides. The center would also host tutoring programs, health screenings, fitness classes and nutrition workshops.

Newport and Middletown

Newport is seeking $1.6 million toward an expansion and renovation of the Florence Gray Center, a community center on York Street. It would offer GED courses, internship and employment help, broadband access, tutoring and homework help, mental-health assistance, dental services and more.

Middletown may receive $1.1 million and is planning to partner with Newport.

North Kingstown

North Kingstown applied for nearly $1.7 million to go toward a new center for recreation, community activities and emergency shelter. (The location was not listed.)

The center would offer classroom space, internet access, résumé workshops, GED services, a computer lab and health monitoring.

North Providence

North Providence applied for $3 million for renovations to a community center on Governor Notte Parkway and renovations to its annex.

It would host youth and adult education programs, GED preparation, job search help, certification programs for teacher assistants and nursing assistants, career-readiness workshops and a variety of health initiatives including mental-health support, dental health and primary care.

Pawtucket

Pawtucket may receive nearly $8 million for a community center, though the location was not shown on the city's application.

It would host job fairs and training, a digital literacy lab, GED courses and adult education, a preschool program and tutoring for school-age children. The center may also offer a community kitchen, nutrition advice and education on tenants' rights to support healthy housing.

Providence

Providence is seeking the largest grant, $16.2 million, to renovate the Davey Lopes Recreation Center, the Joslin Recreation Center and the Elmwood Community Center. Each would have a unique mission, with some services overlapping.

Davey Lopes would take advantage of its pool with swim classes and "general and aquatic-themed workforce development, health and educational programs."

Joslin would offer workforce development that transitions "away from fossil fuels," the city's application read, along with GED preparation, English classes, computer literacy and tutoring. It would also offer behavioral health assistance and substance abuse prevention programming, harm-reduction services such as Narcan training and more.

The Elmwood center might include small business coaching, culinary training, pathway programs for prospective city employees, college preparation and other services.

South Kingstown

South Kingstown applied for $2.4 million to renovate and expand its Peace Dale Library for use as a community center. That includes career planning, internet access, computers, study space and a variety of health services such as wellness checks and flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Smithfield

Smithfield is seeking $1.7 million to go toward a renovation of the East Smithfield Neighborhood Center. It would feature adult education and GED preparation, job-placement programs, homework clubs, summer meals, tutoring, mental-health counseling, vaccination clinics and more.

Warwick

Warwick requested about $6.4 million for three learning centers at the Community College of Rhode Island. Those would feature training various career pathways, summer and afterschool education for high schoolers, vaccination clinics and other services.

Westerly

Westerly applied for about $1.6 million to help finance a new $30-million community center on Tower Street. It would offer training and certification for lifeguards, EMTs, human resources staff and nursing assistants. The center would also host job fairs, courses for various career pathways, mental-health screenings and various clinics, including for immunizations.

Woonsocket

Woonsocket may receive about $5.2 million for a new community center at Cass Park that would cost an estimated $8.1 million. The city is hoping to reduce its unemployment rate with job training, career planning, computer literacy and other programs. The center would also host English classes, GED preparation, adult education and health initiatives such as asthma monitoring, obesity management, lead workshops and more.

With reporting from Journal staff writer Katherine Gregg.

Update: This article has been edited to note that Bristol's Walley School project was dropped so it could focus funding elsewhere. Additionally, updates were made to funding amounts, as certain municipalities are not seeking money, thus increasing the amount that may be given to those applying. The governor's administration is continuing to sort through applications potential funding amounts.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: How RI cities and towns would spend McKee's Learn365RI money