PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- If you've lost your job and are collecting unemployment benefits, maybe you're thinking now's the time to launch that business idea you've often dreamed about. But maybe you're not sure how to get started and don't want to waste precious job-search time while building something that isn't yet paying the bills.
Well, the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training now has $159,734 in federal grant money to help you and other entrepreneurs turn ideas into successful businesses. Unemployed Rhode Islanders who qualify for the program may receive free, intensive entrepreneurial training from the Center for Women & Enterprise and Social Venture Partners Rhode Island -- while not losing the ability to collect unemployment benefits.
The program is expected to launch in March.