U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Jim Langevin hosted the head of the federal Economic Development Administration (EDA), U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Jay Williams, on a tour of Quonset Business Park earlier this week. The group met with leaders of the Quonset Development Corporation, toured EDA-funded projects around the Park and the Port of Davisville, and spoke with Quonset businesses.

The EDA has funded many major infrastructure improvements at Quonset in recent years, including a $6 million commitment for the Zarbo Avenue Bulkhead. The agency has also funded nearly $4 million for the Romano Vineyard Way Bridge, which connects the two halves of the park. The bulkhead project will allow a local marine trades company to expand, while the bridge resolved a dangerous situation in the Park with "at grade" rail crossings.

"EDA funding is giving Rhode Island employers the tools they need to grow and hire," said Whitehouse, "and it's helping to build infrastructure that makes our state a more attractive place to do business. As our state's economy continues to rebound we'll need more investments like this, and I believe today's visit helped Assistant Secretary Williams and his team at EDA see that sending federal dollars to our Ocean State will continue to pay off."

"I am delighted to help welcome Secretary Williams to Rhode Island, where he can see how federal dollars are being put to good use, as we continue to grow Rhode Island's economy," said Congressman Langevin. "The work of the EDA is so important, especially as our state and our nation recover from an economic downturn, and I am excited by the prospects of future growth, job creation and workforce development that will result from the continued support of the EDA."

To learn more about the visit, click here.