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Five Local Engineering Firms Get to Work on TIGER Grant Projects
Earlier this year Rhode Island's congressional delegation, with Sen. Jack Reed taking the lead, worked to secure $22 million in federal stimulus grant funds for Quonset. These grants will lay the foundation for the next wave of growth at the Business Park with major federal investments in infrastructure.
Five engineering firms from Rhode Island are now getting to work on projects funded by the TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grant. They are the Maguire Group, GZA and Garofalo & Associates, all of Providence, GRA Engineering of Pawtucket and Paul Aldinger & Associates of East Providence. Initial designs have been submitted for Terminals 4 and 5 at the Port of Davisville as well as for road improvements there. Materials are due to arrive for the railroad improvement portion of the grant any day, with construction beginning in December.
The Romano Vineyard Way Bridge, another important infrastructure project funded by federal recovery funds, is 65% complete and ahead of schedule.
"All these projects are providing construction jobs today and are laying the groundwork for a wide variety of new jobs in the future," said Steven J. King, P.E., QDC's managing director. "We are grateful for the on-going support of Sen. Reed and the congressional delegation, which have made these investments possible."
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We Have it at Quonset
 Earlier this fall, Quonset Development Corporation Board member John G. Laramee read a commentary piece in a local newspaper with several ideas for improving Quonset. As he read on, he was gratified to know that nearly all of the suggested improvements had already been made.
Laramee took to his computer and responded with some commentary of his own, which the newspaper published over the holiday. He pointed out that from jobs (8,800 jobs at 168 companies) to greening initiatives (wind-ready improvements and LEED-certified construction) to job training (Trades Training Center of Rhode Island) to tourism and amenities (Martha's Vineyard ferry, beaches, golf course, bike path), Quonset is a highly diversified, quickly evolving place poised for more growth as we head into 2011.
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Ocean State Job Lot Opens 100th Store
Wellington Circle Plaza in Medford, Massachusetts is now home to a Rhode Island landmark of sorts. Quonset tenant and Rhode Island icon Ocean State Job Lot opened its 100th store in Medford last week just in time for holiday shopping.
Founded in 1977 by three entrepreneurs with no merchandising experience, the company has grown from its humble beginnings as a scrappy start-up bankrolled by a $1,500 initial investment into a regional player with annual sales of $500 million. The retail chain sells brand-name merchandise - 99% of it first quality - at close-out prices throughout New England and upstate New York.
The Providence Journal recently profiled this Rhode Island original saying Job Lot, "makes it their business to help people stretch finances." Quonset Development Corporation congratulates Ocean State Job Lot and its 4,000 employees on their landmark achievement.
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