Anny Whetzel, a Cranston resident, was recently named a Rhode Island Community Hero by Cox Communications in honor of her volunteer efforts. Whetzel is a production support tech at Cox, where she has worked for more than 13 years. During the past year, she has spent her Saturday afternoons at Knight Memorial Library, a branch of the Providence Community Library, teaching adults English as a Second Language. In recognition of Whetzel’s efforts, Cox will award the library a $3,000 Cox Charities Grant to further support its work in the community. more

Unemployed Rhode Islanders will be able to continue collecting unemployment insurance while they develop a plan to launch their own business with the assistance of a federal grant for the Self Employment Assistance Program, Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee announced Wednesday afternoon. more

In a partnership with Workforce Solutions of Providence/Cranston, Mayors Allan W. Fung and Angel Taveras have announced a series of at least seven job fairs to be held at Roger Williams Park Casino. more

Fewer Americans than projected filed applications for unemployment benefits last week, indicating an improving outlook for the labor market. more

Marilyn Warren has been named to the board of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. She is the executive director of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Newport, and has served as an audiologist and teacher to the deaf. more

The U.S. Department of Labor last week awarded $159,734 to the state of Rhode Island to further its Self-Employment Assistance program. more

James McClure has been promoted to assistant professor of information technology at New England Institute of Technology. more

Kara Marley has been promoted to assistant vice president, branch manager at the Portsmouth Office of NewportFed. more

Melanie Bell has been promoted to assistant vice president at NewportFed. more

Sean Redfern has been promoted to associate principal at Durkee, Brown, Viveiros and Werenfels Architects. more