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GoLocalProv | Business | Rhode Island Commerce Honored as “Economic Development Agency of the Year”

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GoLocalProv | Business | Rhode Island Commerce Honored as “Economic Development Agency of the Year”


Wednesday, December 28, 2022

 

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Liz Tanner, PHOTO: GoLoca

The Rhode Island Govt Workplace of Commerce was honored because the Financial Growth Company of the 12 months on the 2022 Go World Awards.

The Go World Awards rejoice the businesses and organizations which might be driving the worldwide economic system ahead by means of improvements, applied sciences and techniques. The Awards are introduced by the Worldwide Commerce Council, a non-profit group comprised of greater than 418 skilled organizations in 176 nations that gives providers to authorities commerce companies, chambers of commerce, export councils, enterprise associations and firms from around the globe.

“This honor is a testomony to our crew’s ongoing dedication to working collaboratively with financial leaders throughout the nation and around the globe with a purpose to establish and execute methods that enhance Rhode Island’s enterprise neighborhood,” stated Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Liz Tanner, who additionally offered a keynote deal with in the course of the occasion. “We thank the Worldwide Commerce Council and the Estonian Enterprise & Innovation Company for internet hosting this profitable occasion, and we stay up for persevering with to make Rhode Island a better place to launch and broaden companies.”

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“These awards aren’t given calmly. Over 300 financial improvement professionals from authorities companies come collectively yearly to guage the funding and commerce promotion part of the Go World Awards,” stated Ranjani Ranjan, Sr Board Member of the Worldwide Commerce Council. “The Financial Growth Company of the 12 months award is the penultimate award given yearly, and is a mirrored image of the dedication, professionalism and adaptableness of the crew on the Rhode Island Govt Workplace of Commerce, led by  Tanner.” 

 

Rhode Island Commerce’s honor as the highest Financial Growth Company was certainly one of six “main awards” introduced in 2022. Others main awards included:

 

– Management in Worldwide Commerce and Funding Promotion – Germany Commerce and Make investments
– Financial Growth Company of the 12 months – The Rhode Island Govt Workplace of Commerce
– Funding Promotion Company of the 12 months – Enterprise Sweden
– Most Inventive Funding Promotion Advertising of the 12 months – Enterprise Estonia, Put money into Estonia
– Commerce Company of the 12 months (Emeritus) – Enterprise Estonia, Commerce with Estonia
– Worldwide Enterprise Diplomacy Award – MFA of Estonia, Enterprise Diplomacy Division

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This 12 months’s Go World Awards occasion was attended by greater than 500 enterprise leaders, and attracted greater than 8,100 whole award entries.

 

 

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Rhode Island

21-year-old Rhode Island motorcycle rider nearly dies months after losing home, father dying suddenly

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21-year-old Rhode Island motorcycle rider nearly dies months after losing home, father dying suddenly


As police release details of a recent crash, the family of the victim is dealing with another hardship.

On Wednesday at approximately 5:00 p.m., the Warwick Police Department responded to a car versus motorcycle crash in the area of 2766 West Shore Road.

The preliminary investigation suggests that a Toyota Camry attempted to make a turn when the Suzuki GSX 1300 motorcycle crashed into the passenger side.

Responders found the motorcycle rider, 21-year-old Xander Bellini of Warwick, suffering from upper body and facial injuries. He was transported to Rhode Island Hospital and was listed in critical condition.

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The car operator, 61-year-old Cynthia Morse of Warwick, was transported to Rhode Island Hospital and was listed in stable condition.

No charges are pending.

In addition to Xander’s injuries, 2024 has been a tough year for the Bellini family.

According to Xander’s mother, Amy, her husband of 28 years, and his father, died unexpectedly on April 1st in his sleep from a cerebral stroke and as a result, the family lost their home of 19 years.

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Amy says that Bellini, who has no health insurance, started reconstructive surgeries Friday, the first of many as many of his facial bones were broken as well as a skull fracture and a gash about 4 inches across and 3/4 inch tall.

Amy states that Xander’s helmet ultimately saved his life but shattered upon one of the multiple impacts his head made upon landing. Unfortunately, his brother Noah was 2 cars behind him and witnessed Xander’s body as it was cartwheeling after impact. She also said that the metacarpals in his left hand were pretty pulverized, so they decided to start with that surgical procedure first to allow the swelling on his face to subside some before they start setting those bones.

Despite the circumstances, Amy feels thankful.

“We were blessed beyond comprehension with his survival. That coupled with his body mass helped protect his internal organs during the initial and subsequent impacts his poor body endured. He has swelling around his heart and fluid accumulation in his chest but all in all, he was fortunate. We all were. Our family wouldn’t survive another tragedy so close on the heels of losing my husband a few short months ago. After Bobby passed, Xander really stepped up to try and fill some of the holes left by his father’s abrupt passing at such a young age. He really is a remarkable young man. Xander makes a lasting impression on everyone he meets. As a matter of fact, his elementary school teacher reached out earlier today and still has his 5th grade class picture on her refrigerator!”

Amy has created a GoFundMe fundraiser to help with expenses.

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Anyone with information on the crash can call Warwick Police at 401-468-4200.



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Rhode Island

Budget boost: RI revenue projections climb by $67.5 million. What to know.

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Budget boost: RI revenue projections climb by .5 million. What to know.


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PROVIDENCE – With the Rhode Island economy still chugging along, state revenue collections were revised up $67.5 million on Friday.

The new revenue projections are welcome news for state budget writers facing a $398 million projected deficit for the year starting next July and the end of the federal pandemic aid that has fueled state spending for the last three years.

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The new projections from the state’s twice-a-year Revenue Estimating Conference of fiscal advisers predict Rhode Island will collect $5,556,600,000 in revenue during the current budget year, up from the $5,489,117,361 billion they estimated in May.

The biggest changes to expected revenue were:

  • Personal income taxes up $48 million
  • Penalties and fees up $25.9 million
  • Bank taxes up $10.5 million
  • Estate tax up $11.8 million
  • Sales tax up $2 million
  • Health care provider tax up $2.5 million

On the other side of the ledger, these sources were revised down:

  • Lottery income down $25.4 million
  • Corporate tax down $4 million
  • Insurance tax down $2.6 million
  • Cigarette tax down $700,000

Looking ahead to the fiscal year starting July 1, 2025, the new projections estimate that state revenue will grow another 2.3% to $5,682,820,283.



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Judge takes state’s side in budget battle over Providence schools • Rhode Island Current

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Judge takes state’s side in budget battle over Providence schools • Rhode Island Current


A Rhode Island Superior Court judge on Friday ruled in favor of the state education department, which has withheld $8.5 million in aid from Providence for failing to meet funding obligations for city schools, widening the rift between city leaders and state education officials.

Rhode Island Superior Court Associate Justice Jeffrey A. Lanphear issued two rulings in favor of the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), backing the state-run Providence Public School Department (PPSD)declaring that the city is not paying its fair share to the school department. 

“This court, in everything that it does, somehow always seems to apply principles of fairness,” Lanphear said at an afternoon bench motion that followed the release of written decisions Friday morning. “But frankly, balancing the equities is simply not an element of this motion…Here, the only issue is whether or not the city can pay its obligation to the state department. Otherwise, the state can freeze the money.”

Providence School Board makeover is halfway there after Tuesday’s election

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The first ruling partially denied the city’s appeal to stop RIDE from withholding over $7 million in state aid from the Distressed Communities Relief Fund in fiscal year 2024. The judge’s decision underscored the state’s authority over municipalities when they fall short of fulfilling the Crowley Act — the statute that authorized the 2019 state takeover of Providence schools and also prescribes how much funding a state-controlled district must receive from local sources.  

Lanphear’s second ruling concerned an October request from RIDE Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green to state Treasurer James Diossa to withhold $8.5 million in car tax payments, claiming Providence owed nearly $30 million to the district overall. The city then filed a legal complaint. The disputed funds remain in escrow — which is where they’ll stay for the time being, as just how much the city will owe is still unclear.

Lanphear scheduled a hearing for Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 9:30 a.m. to help complete what he called “a simple mathematical calculation” that will determine the city’s debt to its schools. Lanphear said he didn’t trust his own mathematics and would be leaving that to experts at next week’s hearing.

I am disappointed that the wasteful, irresponsible spending of the Providence Public School District and the historical lack of sufficient State funding for our highest need students has led us to this point today.

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– Providence Mayor Brett Smiley

While the judge didn’t trust his math, he was more confident in his reading of the Crowley Act. The state could probably fund the entirety of the budget shortfall on its own, Lanphear thought, but the Crowley Act compels the city to increase financial support for the school district each year, regardless of the state’s financial health. RIDE and the city’s wildly different interpretations of the act have formed the terra firma of the ongoing legal contest. 

Lanphear rejected the foundation of the city’s argument: That the act requires municipal aid to state-run school districts to mirror the increase in state aid to that particular district. 

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“Since the statewide total school aid increased, the City must increase the amount of funding to the PPSD with an equal percentage increase,” Lanphear wrote in his first decision. “The increase in aid to the particular district is not a factor in this calculation.” 

Infante-Green’s request to withhold funds followed Providence Mayor Brett Smiley’s public feud with Providence Superintendent Javier Montañez. Montañez called Smiley ahead of a school board subcommittee meeting on Oct. 9, and requested nearly $10.9 million in emergency funding. Without the money, there could be cuts to winter and spring sports, student bus passes and numerous other areas, the superintendent warned. 

Smiley responded with a $1 million offer the following day, promising to use money from not-yet-finalized payment in lieu of taxes agreements recently struck with nonprofits in the city. The City Council promised an additional $1.5 million from the final reserves of pandemic relief money. Both mayor and council agreed that the school district would be subject to a third-party audit before they could get any funds. The school department has yet to take any action on the offers, and the City Council earlier this week canceled a meeting that would have authorized the funds, due to the court battle.

Rhode Island Superior Court Associate Justice Jeffrey A. Lanphear ruled in favor of the Rhode Island Department of Education, backing the state-run Providence Public School Department in an ongoing budget battle. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Consequences may be very costly

A “deeply disappointed” Smiley issued a statement Friday, arguing that the decision could have expensive consequences for residents across the capital city, including students and their families.

“This decision puts the City’s finances at risk and in the days ahead, we will need to make difficult decisions that we had hoped to avoid, including the potential to increase taxes, cut programs and stop future borrowings, the largest of which is for the future development of new school buildings for our students,” Smiley wrote.

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The mayor then echoed his previous skepticism about the district’s budgeting skills: “I am disappointed that the wasteful, irresponsible spending of the Providence Public School District and the historical lack of sufficient State funding for our highest need students has led us to this point today,” Smiley added.

Providence City Council President Rachel Miller issued a statement Friday lamenting the judge’s “striking decision,” saying it may endanger the city’s financial health. RIDE, Miller argued, sacrificed collaboration and transparency to pursue “an adversarial route” that ignores city needs beyond the school department.

“While RIDE does not have to consider the impacts of cuts to critical city services or tax increases on a struggling community, we do, and the families of PPSD students do as well,” Miller wrote. “Why should Providence taxpayers be forced to bankroll an opaque and irresponsible budgeting process that treats students and families as collateral damage?” 

On the greener side of the grass were the victorious Infante-Green and Montañez, who celebrated the ruling in a joint statement. 

 “Today’s Court ruling is a win for our kids,” they wrote. “Our priority throughout this legal dispute has been clear: making sure Providence students, teachers, and school communities have the proper resources they need and deserve.”

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Jennifer Wood, executive director of Rhode Island Center for Justice, said after the bench motion that she would be meeting with Providence students and parents to consult further about the new developments.“Even from preliminary conversations I know that they are tremendously relieved that further immediate cuts to their schools may be avoided based on the two rulings today,” Wood said.

Wood also highlighted Lanphear’s argument focusing on “the harm to students and their families” without a “‘great’ school system.”

“There are so many small decisions that can make a difference in what a student learns and how they develop and become adults,” Lanphear said at the bench motion.

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