In This Issue
Quonset Has Big Impact on Rhode Island
Holmander Bids Adieu to Quonset
RI Fast Ferry Proposes Quonset to Block Island Service

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Bryant Study: Quonset 

Has Big Impact on Rhode Island


 
 
Quonset Business Park's economic impact on the State of Rhode Island goes much further than just the 175 companies and 9,100 full and part-time employees working here. That's the focus of a report issued earlier this year from Bryant University's John H. Chafee Center for International Business and the Center for Global and Regional Economic Studies.

Using data from 2011, the report shows that economic activity at the Quonset Business Park benefits other local businesses from the direct purchases at the Park, as well as from the purchases of locally produced goods and services that arise from the income derived by employees at the Park. Further, other local firms require more labor and inputs to meet rising demand for their output, which has been stimulated by Quonset Business Park economic activity.

Among the key figures from the report, which utilized data from 2011:
  • Quonset Business Park generated a total of 18,537 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs in Rhode Island, from which 7,634 were direct FTE jobs (Full-time equivalent aggregate of the 8,800 full and part-time employees at the Park in 2011 when the study was done.) and 10,903 were induced FTE jobs.
  • Quonset Business Park created $956.5 million in income for Rhode Island households. Direct earnings totaled $397.7 million and induced earnings totaled $558.8 million.
  • Quonset Business Park generated $25.5 million in income tax revenues for the State of Rhode Island.

Overall, the report estimates that by 2021 the existing and future buildout impact of economic activity at Quonset could generate just under 33,000 FTE direct and induced jobs, over $1.5 billion in income for households, and about $40 million in income tax revenues for the State. If corporate taxes accrued to the state, property taxes and payments-in-lieu-of-taxes accrued to the town were also considered, the total tax revenue would greatly exceed the $40 million estimate.   


To read the full report, click here.  

After 23 Years, Pete Holmander 

Bids Adieu to Quonset 

 
Pete Holmander


The Quonset Business Park was a much different place when Pete Holmander arrived in 1990. After serving as a police officer in West Greenwich for five years and a carpenter for Electric Boat at their site in Groton for eight years, Holmander was looking for a new challenge. After hearing about an opening from his father, who used to work at Quonset part-time, Holmander applied for a maintenance job at Quonset with the Rhode Island Port Authority. 
 


"It was a totally different place back then," Holmander said. "There were abandoned buildings everywhere, the roads were in rough shape - very little curb appeal."    


For the past 23 years, Pete has had an up-close look at the transformation of Quonset Business Park. Starting in a position that was mainly responsible for helping with the maintenance and upkeep of the old Navy buildings on site, Pete climbed the ranks to become Assistant Superintendent of Maintenance for the QDC, a position he has held since 2007. As Holmander explained, the role of the maintenance department has also changed over his tenure. 

 

"Nowadays the focus is much more on public works throughout the park, including the roads, water systems, and grounds keeping," he said.

This July, Pete will say "goodbye" to Quonset, when he takes his retirement. He plans to spend more time with his four grandchildren, do a little traveling, and focus on his antique engine collecting and target shooting. But the time Pete spent here is something he will always cherish.

"I'm going to miss the camaraderie of the guys and working with such a great group of people. This place has come a long, long way and it's because of the top notch team they have in place now," Holmander said. "I'm very grateful to the QDC for having given me the opportunity to work at such a terrific job and I always will be."  

Steven J. King, Managing Director of the QDC expressed his gratitude, "We've been very fortunate to have had Pete Holmander on this team for the past 23 years, and we congratulate him on his well deserved retirement."
 

Rhode Island Fast Ferry Proposes
Quonset to Block Island Service
Rhode Island Fast Ferry

Earlier this month Rhode Island Fast Ferry, Inc. announced that it had applied to the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (RIPUC) for a license to operate a high-speed ferry service to Block Island departing from its location at Quonset Business Park.

Owner and President Charles A. Donadio, Jr. said that a fast ferry departing from Quonset Point will attract a new market of visitors to Block Island and encourage more Rhode Island residents and tourists to visit Block Island more frequently.

"Our convenient departure location in Quonset Point avoids all the heavy beach traffic during the busy summer months," Donadio said. "The addition of fast ferry service to Block Island is a natural fit for my company in Quonset. We have the infrastructure in place, the inter-modal connections and the experience to provide a five star fast ferry service to Block Island," he added.   

Mr. Donadio said he would invest 6-7 million dollars to build a brand new aluminum catamaran for the service, and the ferries would operate between 2-4 round-trips per day and the 30-mile trip would take approximately 45-50 minutes. To learn more about the announcement, click here.