News and Information Blog

U.S. builders start fewer new homes in December

WASHINGTON – U.S. builders broke ground on fewer residential projects last month than the month before, and sought fewer permits for future construction, according to the joint report issued today by the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development. In all of 2007, builders broke ground on an estimated 1.354 million units of housing nationwide, 24.8 percent fewer than in 2006.

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T.F. Green surpasses 5M passenger goal

WARWICK – Passenger traffic at T.F. Green Airport in 2007 surpassed the R.I. Airport Corporation’s 5 million goal, despite a decline last month to the lowest level since February, RIAC figures show.

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R.I. Foundation awards $5M in year-end grants

PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Foundation today announced more than $5 million in year-end grants to 112 projects across the state, including affordable housing developments and innovations in elementary and secondary education.

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Study: Most psychiatric cases involve multiple issues

PROVIDENCE – A study by researchers at Rhode Island Hospital, published in the February edition of the journal Psychological Medicine, has found that most outpatient psychiatric patients have more than one diagnosis.

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United Way to move to Olneyville from East Side

PROVIDENCE – The United Way of Rhode Island today announced it has sold its East Side headquarters for $4.375 million and will relocate to Olneyville, where President and CEO Anthony Maione said the nonprofit can spur positive change in the community.

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6 local communities have joined EPA Energy Challenge

When Warwick signed on for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s New England Community Energy Challenge last July, it was the only Rhode Island participant and one of only 30 in all of New England. Now, there are more than 30 in Massachusetts alone. In the six New England states, participants now include more than 75 cities and towns representing 20 percent of the region’s population. “This is a win-win,” EPA Regional Administrator Robert W. Varney, left, said of the municipal energy efficiency program.

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Lardaro: R.I. recession may have begun

PROVIDENCE – The state’s projected $450 million budget deficit will probably drag Rhode Island into a recession in 2008, and keep it there while the rest of the country sees economic improvements later this year, University of Rhode Island economist Leonard Lardaro, left, told the Smaller Business Association of New England today.

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Tourism spending in R.I. totals $5.8B per year

NEWPORT – Tourism-related spending in Rhode Island totaled $5.8 billion in fiscal 2006, according to a report presented today by Global Insights Inc.

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SolarWrights buys Mass. alternative energy firm

BRISTOL – Renewable energy construction company SolarWrights Inc. today announced it has acquired Kosmo Solar Inc., a Springfield, Mass.-based alternative energy solutions provider, for an undisclosed sum in cash and stock.

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Fall River Chamber offers free business counseling

FALL RIVER – The Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc. today announced it has received $50,000 from the Mass. Office of Small Business & Entrepreneurship to provide technical assistance to local startups and small businesses.

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