KINGSTON, R.I. \u2013 March 26, 2025 \u2013 The University of Rhode Island Master of Public Administration program, in collaboration with the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, URI\u2019s Office of Strategic Initiatives, and Gov. Dan McKee\u2019s Office, has launched the State and Municipal Finance Academy (SMFA) to tackle the critical shortage of public finance professionals in Rhode Island\u2019s state agencies, municipalities, and school districts.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs part of my administration\u2019s Rhode to Prosperity initiative, we\u2019re focusing on empowering Rhode Islanders to seek pathways to higher-wage jobs, and that includes jobs in the public sector,\u201d said McKee. \u201cThe State and Municipal Finance Academy will not only help address the workforce shortage in this crucial sector, but also create more opportunities for Rhode Islanders to advance their careers and increase their earning potential.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meeting a workforce need<\/strong><\/p>\n The State and Municipal Finance Academy is a non-credit professional development program designed to equip state, municipal, and school district employees with the essential skills needed for careers in public finance. Through seven weeks of hybrid instruction from Aug. 19 to Sept. 30, participants will gain expertise in state and municipal budgeting, tax assessment, government accounting, state reporting requirements, and negotiations.<\/p>\n The University of Rhode Island\u2019s Office of Strategic Initiatives has a long track record of being engaged in efforts to address workforce challenges affecting the state.<\/p>\n \u201cGovernor McKee\u2019s Rhode to Prosperity calls for experiential learning that empowers Rhode Islanders who seek pathways to higher-wage jobs,\u201d said John Olerio, director of URI\u2019s Office of Strategic Initiatives. \u201cThe Office of Strategic Initiatives is thrilled to partner with the URI MPA program and the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns to deliver an innovative program that aligns with both Governor McKee\u2019s call to provide upward mobility for ambitious Rhode Islanders and to advance the University\u2019s strategic goal of addressing the most pressing issues facing our state.\u201d<\/p>\n The need for skilled public finance professionals has also been recognized by organizations like the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, which surveys its members to identify workforce challenges across the state.<\/p>\n \u201cRhode Island\u2019s cities and towns rely on skilled finance professionals to ensure strong fiscal management and long-term stability,\u201d said Randy Rossi, executive director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns. \u201cThe State and Municipal Finance Academy is a critical investment in our public workforce, equipping current and future municipal employees with the training they need to advance their careers and better serve their communities. We are proud to collaborate on this initiative and look forward to its positive impact on local government operations across the state.\u201d<\/p>\n Graduates of the SMFA will receive a certificate of completion from URI, signifying their specialized training in public finance.<\/p>\n Supporting displaced federal workers<\/strong><\/p>\n In response to recent federal workforce reductions, a limited number of tuition waivers will be available for displaced Rhode Island federal employees and grant administrators. This initiative aims to help highly skilled professionals transition into state and local government finance roles, strengthening Rhode Island\u2019s public sector.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are proud to collaborate with our partners to address the critical shortage of skilled public finance professionals in Rhode Island\u2019s state and municipal governments,\u201d said Aaron Ley,<\/a> director of URI\u2019s MPA Program. \u201cConsistent with our nationally accredited MPA program\u2019s mission, this program is designed to strengthen the operational capacity of public institutions while supporting public service employees at all levels of government. We also recognize the challenges faced by displaced federal service workers and grant administrators. To support their continued commitment to public service, we are offering a limited number of seats at no cost, with the hope that they bring their expertise and dedication to serve at the state and municipal level in Rhode Island.\u201d<\/p>\n Program Details<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Format: 7-week hybrid program via Zoom<\/p>\n \u2022 Dates: Aug. 19 \u2013 Sept. 30 (Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to noon)<\/p>\n \u2022 Cost: $750 per participant (a limited number of fee waivers available for displaced federal employees and grant administrators)<\/p>\n \u2022 Registration: https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/osi\/smfa\/<\/a><\/p>\n The SMFA will be facilitated by Stephen Coleman, chief of the Division of Municipal Finance for the Rhode Island Department of Revenue. A recognized expert in public finance, Coleman serves on the board of the Rhode Island Government Finance Officers Association and has contributed to key state initiatives such as the Municipal Resiliency Task Force and the Asset Management Commission of Smithfield. \u201cMy goal for this program is to expand the pool of qualified local fiscal professionals by introducing students to essential concepts and topics not typically covered in traditional educational programs, but are critical to the role,\u201d said Coleman.<\/p>\n With a curriculum tailored to Rhode Island\u2019s unique public finance landscape and instruction from experienced practitioners, the State and Municipal Finance Academy is poised to become a cornerstone in training the next generation of public finance leaders.<\/p>\n About the URI MPA program<\/strong><\/p>\n Established in 1961, the University of Rhode Island\u2019s Master of Public Administration program is the only NASPAA-accredited MPA program in Rhode Island. It provides rigorous yet flexible training in public service leadership, policy analysis, and public management. Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations, state agencies, and local governments, the program prepares graduates to lead, manage, and address critical public service challenges.<\/p>\n For more information or to enroll in the State and Municipal Finance Academy, visit https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/osi\/smfa\/<\/a>. Or contact Aaron Ley, at 218-431-6322 ajley@uri.edu<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Program offers limited fee waivers for displaced federal workers, grant administrators.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5153,"featured_media":17439,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[265,329,262],"class_list":["post-17438","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-master-of-public-administration","tag-masters-of-public-administration","tag-mpa"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/artsci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17438","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/artsci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/artsci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/artsci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5153"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/artsci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17438"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/artsci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17438\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17440,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/artsci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17438\/revisions\/17440"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/artsci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17439"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/artsci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17438"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/artsci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17438"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/artsci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17438"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}