Schools receive telecommunications
funds
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Schools and Libraries Corporation has awarded
$774,517 in grants to 10 Rhode Island schools and libraries in its
second wave of responses to applications for a special rate discount on
telecommunications services, Internet access and internal communications
like e-mail. In the first round of awards last month the corporation
awarded $148,000. The SLC was set up by the Federal Communications
Commission to administer the funds set up by the Telecommunications Act
of 1996, which established a $2.25 billion universal service fund to
help set up discount rates for schools and libraries.
Textron in joint venture with Taiwan
firm
PROVIDENCE – A joint venture between Textron Inc. and San Shing Hardware
Works Company Ltd. of Taiwan, that country’s largest manufacturer of
fasteners, has been announced by the two companies. Textron Fastening
Systems, a subsidiary of Textron Inc., will acquire an 80 percent
interest on TFS/Tri-Star Co. Ltd., a newly formed bolt-making operation
in conjunction with San Shing Hardware. Textron said the plant would be
Textron’s second in Asia (the first was in Thailand to serve U.S.
electronics manufacturers in that region).
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Smithfield man fined $2,000 for false
report
PROVIDENCE – Superior Court Master Joseph Keough fined Frank C.
DiCenzo, 38, of Smithfield $2,000 after DiCenzo pleaded no contest to a
charge of filing a false document with the Department of Environmental
Management. The charge was filed after DiCenzo, president of DiCenzo
Construction Company, Inc., located at 1200 Douglas Ave., North
Providence, reported only two underground storage tanks which had passed
inspection. According to the attorney general’s office DiCenzo did not
include the third of his tanks, which had failed the inspection, in the
report, but instead whited that information out. Keough ordered DiCenzo
to pay his fine within 30 days.
Boat builders report labor shortage
PORTSMOUTH – Boat manufacturers in this area report that a shortage of
skilled boat builders is hampering work schedules and costing them
business. According to the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation
at least 100 jobs are available in the state’s boat building industry.
According to the state Economic Policy Council the state has 35 builders
and suppliers that employ about 1,500 workers. Manufacturers and state
officials traded complaints that the other wasn’t doing enough to train
new workers. The state did run a training program for fiber glass
workers in the summer resulting in 36 trainees being hired by the
industry, according to the EDC.
Monet consolidating, drops 77 workers
EAST PROVIDENCE – Acknowledging what he described as a nationwide
slowdown in retail sales of costume jewelry, and in an effort to
consolidate its production, a Monet Group spokesman said the company
would close its plant on Lonsdale Avenue in Pawtucket and move 158
workers there to its East Providence plant. Meanwhile the company
announced that it was letting 77 workers go at its East Providence plant
and that it had “furloughed” 200 more until Jan. 4. The spokesman said
the Lonsdale Avenue plant probably would be closed next April or May.
The company is continuing to operate its East Providence plant with a
reduced workforce (170, instead of 430), the spokesman said.
Family unification housing grant
awarded
WASHINGTON, D.C. – With funds provided by the federal Department of
Housing and Urban Development, a Family Unification Program to assist
families in need of housing has been set up in Rhode Island. The
$655,404 grant will be administered by the Rhode Island Housing and
Mortgage Finance Corporation. The grant is to provide 100 certificates
for Section 8 rental housing assistance to families either separated or
facing separation because of lack of adequate housing. The Housing
Corporation will be working with the state Department of Children,
Youth and Families. The certificates will be distributed throughout the
state. Under Section 8 housing, recipients pay 30 percent of their
income toward rent, with the balance being paid by the federal
government. Announcement of the award was made by the office of Rep.
Patrick Kennedy.
Citizens sells Visa credit card
business
PROVIDENCE – In its quarterly earnings report, the Citizens Financial
Group announced that it had sold its Visa credit-card portfolio to
Bankcard Services of MBNA. The report said the sale resulted in a $55.4
million gain. A bank spokeswoman said the cards would continue to be
Citizens Bank cards, but would be processed by MBNA, a company which
reports it has 20 million customers worldwide. MBNA’s headquarters are
in Wilmington, Del.
