Up to an additional $900 will be automatically deposited into accounts of people who qualified for unemployment benefits for the weeks ending Aug. 22, Aug. 29 and Sept. 5.
Rhode Islanders who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 will also have the opportunity to take part in a new Back to Work initiative. This initiative focuses on people who have lost their jobs during the pandemic and people who need credentials to get a new job.
Federal stimulus money is going towards the program, making it free for Rhode Islanders. The state will also cover the cost of childcare and transportation.
“It is brutal out there, if you work in hospitality, retail, at a restaurant, I’m sorry, I know it’s really hard and I know some businesses might not make it,” said Raimondo. “But, we want to be there for you so you can get a job and that might mean you need to get yourselves new skills.”
Raimondo said she has commitments from CVS, Amazon, Microsoft and other companies to hire 3,000 Rhode Islanders by the end of this year.
As well as increasing benefits for unemployed Rhode Islanders, Raimondo is working on expanding benefits for businesses, including the Restore program offering pandemic relief grants of up to $15,000 each for eligible small businesses. Sole proprietors, businesses with no employees, or fewer than 50 employees and businesses with revenue loss of greater than 30 percent are now eligible.
