Former House Finance Committee Chairman Tony Pires is more familiar than most with the often glacial pace of action in the General Assembly. Now director of administration in Pawtucket, Pires and other city leaders know their financially ailing community can’t afford to wait any longer when it comes to the money-saving issue of sharing services with neighboring communities. more

General Treasurer Gina M. Raimondo has taken more media shots for her choice to allocate 22 percent of the state’s pension funds to alternative investments, including hedge funds. more

The danger with workforce-development efforts focusing too much on industries that require extensive education and training is that many of those who have been hurt most by the Great Recession are in danger of being left behind as the state slowly climbs its way back. more

From two signatures, great progress can be made. more

Last week, Providence Business News held its third Chief Financial Officer Awards program, a celebration of the men and women who help secure the success of their companies. more

With the creation of the Rhode Island Coalition for the Future of Nursing, we are witnessing the power that collaboration can have to solve problems in the 21st century. more

With the economic-development plan that he unveiled last week, Providence Mayor Angel Taveras has sent a message – it’s time to stop playing defense and move forward. Growth is the shot in the arm that cures deficits and starts self-sustaining, virtuous cycles. more

When the Rhode Island health-benefits exchange becomes operational on Oct. 1, companies with fewer than 50 employees will be able to use it to offer health insurance to their workers. But those with between 50 and 99 employees will not be able to do so. more

R.I. Education Commissioner Deborah A. Gist is totally on the money. The carnival sideshow that was 50 adults taking a sample New England Common Assessment Program test was more than silly. It damages the efforts – and progress – that Ms. Gist has been making with regard to the quality of the state’s educational efforts. more

Fallout from the 38 Studios LLC debacle has followed a predictable pattern whenever people try to avoid responsibility. more