Rhode Island
How important is Quonset Business Park to RI’s economy? We break down the numbers.
Go out to sea for a view of Point Judith’s breakwaters
Fisherman are calling for repairs to be made to Point Judith’s breakwaters
NORTH KINGSTOWN – When the Navy base at Quonset Point closed in the 1970s, it delivered a body blow to Rhode Island’s economy that would be felt for years.
But when the federal government transferred the Quonset Naval Air Station and adjacent Naval Construction Battalion Center Davisville, which closed almost two decades later, to the state, Rhode Island leaders envisioned an industrial park that could take up some of the slack left in the Navy’s wake.
While much of the infrastructure was already in place – including rail lines, docking facilities and an airport – the state has poured millions into developing the Quonset Business Park, which is now home to the premier nuclear submarine builder in the world and one of the busiest auto importing ports in the country.
Here’s a by-the-numbers look at the industrial park, now run by the Quonset Development Corporation, a state agency that is a subsidiary of the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, the state economic development agency:
The industrial park
Located about 20 miles south of Providence by road, Quonset Business Park sits on 3,198 acres, including 1,446 acres for business development, of which 130 acres remain unrestricted.
People
As of July 2024, more than 14,379 full- and part-time jobs were located at more than 239 companies in Quonset, including submarine maker General Dynamics Electric Boat; North Atlantic Distribution (NORAD), an automobile importer; Toray Plastics (America); and Ørsted, the offshore wind-farm company that has a regional operations and maintenance hub in Quonset.
The average annual wage for those who work in the industrial park is $69,656.
Planes
Run under the auspices of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, also a state agency that is a subsidiary of the commerce corporation, Quonset State Airport is home to the Rhode Island Air National Guard. The airport, at an elevation of 18.3 feet above sea level, has a 7,504-foot main runway and a 4,000-foot crosswind runway.
Trains
Last year, 7,513 rail cars moved on the industrial park’s 18.2 miles of freight rail lines.
Automobiles
Cars can be looked at in two ways when it comes to Quonset:
First, the industrial park has 20 miles of roadways – plus 2.3 miles of paved bike path, for those looking for substitutes for motor vehicles.
But, more important economically, the Port of Davisville within the industrial park is one of the top 10 importers of cars in the nation. In 2023, 239,761 auto imports moved through the port, plus 10,731 used autos were shipped out.
Ships
The Port of Davisville has five terminals with 4,500 feet of berthing space, including three active roll-on/roll-off berths, with 235 acres of operating capacity.
In 2023, 260 ships made port calls at Davisville.
The port is also home to the Rhode Island Fast Ferry terminal, offering service to Martha’s Vineyard.
Rhode Island
In a Small Rhode Island Factory, This Designer Is Championing American Luxury
Lindy McDonough started her brand, Lindquist (the full version of her Swedish middle name), with a rule about glue. It had to be high quality, holding together the layers of her unique bags, but also free of VOC—a toxic compound used by most leather bag brands—and all other toxins. The rule was a non-starter because it’s both a nexus and metaphor for the brand’s ethos.
In 2020, McDonough started Lindquist with her husband, Conor MacKean, a mechanical engineer, and Kate Gronner, head of production, in a small factory in Providence, Rhode Island. “We had dreams—we still have big dreams—about what we wanted to do, but we wanted to do it the right way,” she tells Vogue. The right way meant ethically handmade bags created by a team that earns competitive wages, with full healthcare and benefits. It also means no toxic dyes, no waste, and only high-quality, vegetable-tanned leather. “[We thought] if we make a beautiful thing and treat people well, it will work,” she says of the beginning stages.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Blood Center celebrates holiday season with giveaway for blood donors | ABC6
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Starting today, the Rhode Island Blood Center (RIBC) will be spreading holiday cheer with a special gift as a thank you for critically needed blood donations.
Donors will receive either a festive pair of socks or a beanie in an effort to encourage blood donations.
According to the RIBC, this time of year can be the most challenging for donations, as they can decline 20 to 30% during the last week of December.
RIBC said they encourage new and returning donors to schedule an appointment, and prioritize blood donation this holiday season.
Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice per month.
The holiday promotion will be available from today until Tuesday, January 3 at all of RIBC’s donor centers.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently lifted several blood donor eligibility restrictions. To view current eligibility guidelines or make an appointment, you can visit the RIBC’s website or call 401.453.8383.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island high school hockey schedules, scores and stats for Dec. 20-21
The Providence Journal is going to try something new this winter.
Readers swarmed to our weekly football scoreboard in the fall. The state’s football coaches did their part and submitted results to us, and we did our best to publish in a timely manner.
We want to do the same for hockey. We don’t know if it’ll work, but I really hope it does. The readership for hockey is strong and we think if this is done correctly, it will be successful. There’s probably going to be growing pains and it might take a bit to smooth out the kinks. But if done right, it will get hockey players in the paper weekly.
And if we get enough results, we can start publishing ballots for hockey athletes of week. Coaches have been asked to send results to pjsports@providencejournal.com after the games.
Now let’s get to the games from Dec. 20-21.
The top returning high school boys hockey players? Here are 30 players to watch this season
The top returning high school girls hockey players? Here are 14 players to watch this season.
Games are subject to change
Boys schedule
Friday’s Games
Portsmouth 2, Ponaganset 0
Friday night is a formula Portsmouth boys hockey could use for a repeat championship run.
A quick start, contributions from its second line and a shutout from a title-winning goalie showcased the Patriots’ first win of the season. After trudging through their opening games against Barrington and North Kingstown, the Patriots scored on their first power play vs. Ponaganset.
Chase Pascoe put Portsmouth up with 2:59 left in the first period and then the sophomore tallied again just eight seconds into the second period. Portsmouth’s 2-0 triumph at Levy Arena comes on the heels of an 8-5 defeat to Barrington and 5-2 loss to North Kingstown.
“We need him to produce,” senior captain, Shane Temple said of Pascoe. “That was amazing from him today. And honestly, we just have to play like we did last year – with some heart and grit.”
Pascoe was Portsmouth second leading scorer last year. The sophomore winger finished with 10 goals last winter and is well on his way to topping that mark.
“The first few games were rough,” Temple said. “I feel like we played teams that were just ahead of us at this time in the season. But in both games we lost, we came out really hot in the third period. And I feel like today we fixed that. We came out hot in the beginning of the game and we played the whole game today.”
Goalie Jonathan Cabral faced 27 shots in the win and grabbed his first shutout of the year. Portsmouth finished with 31 shots on net.
“We just need to do the same thing we did last year [to have another successful season],” Cabral said. “And that’s just putting in more effort. Last season we hit a little slump, and then once we started trying a lot more and put in a lot more effort, it came together.”
Barrington 6, Burrillville 2
Revenge came in the first week of the season for Barrington.
The Eagles were swept in the quarterfinals vs. Burrillville last year, but they already toppled the Broncos in their first in-state contest.
Burrillville’s Patrick Murphy redirected Cam Force’s shot for the game’s first goal just three minutes into the night cap of the doubleheader at Levy Arena. But Barrington responded with back-to-back goals in 45 seconds.
A Burrillville turnover in its defensive zone saw Henry Kelsey bury the tying goal off an assist from Joseph Carmone. The Eagles added their second when Austin McCarty found Trent Senn on the crease for a 2-1 lead with 5:03 left in the first period.
Force retied the match with a wrister, top left, with 59 seconds remaining in the opening frame, but that’s all Burrillville could manage.
Connor Hayes made it 3-2 with a goal off a rebound and Kelsey added his second with 5.3 seconds left in the second period. And then Senn and Kelsey finished the night with goals in the third period.
EG/Toll Gate 8, West Warwick/EWG 4
Pilgrim vs. Moses Brown at Thayer Arena, 3:45 p.m.
South Kingstown vs. Nariho at Boss Arena, 6:30 p.m.
RMT vs. North Kingstown at Boss Arena, 8:15 p.m.
Coventry/Johnston vs. Cumberland, ppd.
Smithfield vs. Hendricken, ppd.
Prout vs. La Salle at Smithfield, ppd.
Saturday’s Games
Barrington at New Canaan (CT), 2:30 p.m.
Bishop Guertin vs. Prout at Schneider Arena, 3 p.m.
RMT at Burrillville, 4 p.m.
Cranston vs. Ponaganset at Levy Arena, 6 p.m.
Blackstone vs. Lincoln at Route 146, 6:45 p.m.
La Salle vs. Hendricken at Thayer Arena, 7:45 p.m.
Pilgrim at Smithfield, 8 p.m.
Girls schedule
Friday’s Games
East Bay vs. Cranston at Cranston Veterans, 8:10 p.m.
SCMB vs. Warwick at Thayer Arena, ppd.
Saturday’s Games
South County at Longmeadow (MA), 2 p.m.
La Salle at Falmouth (MA), 6 p.m.
Sunday’s Game
South County vs. La Salle at Route 146, 4:35 p.m.
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