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Greetings!
With over 12,000 jobs at more than 200 companies, the Quonset Business Park is a Rhode Island success story. 

Ironically, some of this success can be traced back to the Great Recession of 2008-09, which slowed activity there. Quonset’s managing director Steven King, however, saw an opportunity and used the slow down to create Quonset’s innovative Site Readiness program. 

While the economy struggled, the Quonset team did everything a new owner would do to get 52 empty parcels ready for construction. Working with the Town, CRMC, DEM and other state agencies they secured the zoning and permits necessary to begin construction right away on pre-permitted, pre-engineered land.

Success quickly followed. In the last decade Quonset’s Site Readiness parcels have hosted 3,500 new jobs at 41 companies. 

Now, the Quonset team is bringing the Site Readiness formula statewide. Gov. Dan McKee recently cut the ribbon on RI Ready, a $40 million program to get eligible industrial parcels in every Rhode Island community ready for new companies, and new jobs.

For Rhode Island, RI Ready is just one more opportunity to create a strong, successful economy in the post-COVID world. To learn more about eligibility and the application process for RI Ready, visit RIReady.org.
Building the Team

We’re getting the New Year off to a great start with the addition of Maggie Rogers (left) to our team. A native Rhode Islander, Maggie joins us from the National Public Pension Coalition, where she led their digital media efforts. We are thrilled to have Maggie on board to help us tell all of our great client stories in 2022, and beyond. 
Nice Ink!
R.I. Charter School Brings Successful Model to New York

The need for nurses and healthcare providers has been made even greater by the pandemic. Now, Nurses Middle College Charter High School - Capital Region (NursesMC-CR) is getting ready to meet that need in the Albany region with a brand new college preparatory school opening its doors in September.

NursesMC-CR is based on a model pioneered by RI Nurses Institute Middle College Charter High School (“RINI”) in Providence, R.I. Created in 2011 by the Rhode Island nursing community, RINI has expanded the diversity in the state’s nursing workforce and helped meet the demand for more nurses.

“The past year has demonstrated that nurses are indispensable,” said Dr. Brenda Robinson, the lead applicant for the Albany school. “NursesMC-CR will prepare students for success in a college major that will lead to a rewarding career in nursing and the ability to earn a highly competitive salary right after college graduation.”

The Times-Union
Neon Marketplace Opens for Business in Warwick and Seekonk, With a Goal of 150 Stores in New England

The newest, most innovative brand in the convenience store industry opened its doors in Warwick, R.I. and Seekonk, Mass. recently. Rhode Island-based Neon Marketplace will open 10 locations by the end of 2022, with the goal of adding 150 stores in New England over the next five years. 

Neon offers a full menu of fresh, on-the-go food and beverage items, including brick-oven pizza and bean-to-cup coffee and espresso. Currently offering some of the lowest gas prices in the area, Neon is also amped up to provide Tesla Superchargers for EVs.

“We are thrilled to bring Neon Marketplace’s model of modern convenience to Warwick’s City Centre, a busy hub of commerce,” said Peter Rasmussen, Director of Operations for Neon. “We pride ourselves on offering premium products at bright, clean, technology-driven stores.”

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The Warwick Beacon

NACS

RI News Today
More Growth for
TPG Marinas

TPG Hotels, Resorts and Marinas now has a presence on both Jamestown’s east and west passages with the acquisition of the Island’s premiere marinas - Conanicut Marina and Taylor Point Boat Yard. 

One of the nation’s premier hospitality and marina management firms, TPG’s other recent acquisitions include Dutch Harbor Boat Yard in Jamestown, RI, Champlin’s Marina and Resort on Block Island, Danford’s Resort, Marina and Spa in Port Jefferson, NY, and Mill Wharf Marina and Scituate Harbor Marina, both in Scituate, MA.

NEREJ

Boating Industry

Jamestown Press
RIPEC Releases Analysis of 2022 Business Tax Climate Index

The Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (“RIPEC”) recently released an analysis of the Tax Foundation’s 2022 Business Tax Climate Index that ranked Rhode Island 40th in the nation, down two spots from 2021. RIPEC’s analysis found that Rhode Island was on a generally positive trajectory between 2014 and 2019, but in the last three years, the state has lost ground. 

“Rhode Island has improved its business tax climate over the years,” said RIPEC President and CEO Michael DiBiase (above). “However, as other states have enacted reforms to make their business tax systems more competitive in the last few years, Rhode Island has stood still.” 

RIPEC’s report also made recommendations for policymakers that would improve Rhode Islands’ business climate. These include improving the property tax structure and corporate income tax, resisting calls to increase individual income tax among high wage earners and using federal pandemic relief funding to provide unemployment tax relief for R.I. companies.

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Providence Business First

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