It is an approach that helped restructure the Rhode Island workers’ compensation system and to foster changes to the way unemployment insurance is calculated. Now, a broad coalition of business and labor groups are joining forces to support a cause they believe is critical to the long-term economic well being of the Ocean State – the construction of a privately financed container port at Quonset Point/Davisville.
”GoPort,” the group is spearheaded by some of the biggest players in the business and labor communities – including the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and the Rhode Island AFL-CIO. GoPort’s formation comes just weeks before the anticipated completion of the “stakeholder process.”
Rhode Island's Market Has Changed. Developers, Builders, Investors and Sellers Must Change With It.
By Emilio DiSpirito IV License Partner | Engel & Völkers Oceanside Leader | The DiSpirito…
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The stakeholders are a group of about 50 individuals from the business, labor, and environmental communities, as well as representatives of the Town of North Kingstown. The stakeholders are expected by early March to deliver a report to Gov. Lincoln Almond detailing their recommendations for a proposed shipping port.
At a press conference at the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce on Monday, Jan. 25, Carol Grant, GoPort’s chairperson and vice president of human resources at Textron, said the group backs a privately financed port. Grant said such a port would allow Rhode Island to tap into “new avenues of revenues.”
”Rhode Island has an opportunity to build a port, at no cost to the taxpayers, that can succeed in the free market,” said Grant. “Our group believes we should seize that opportunity.”
There has been talk of such a port creating at least 5,000 jobs and establishing hundreds of millions of dollars in new wages. But there have also been deep concerns about its potential environmental impact.
Grant addressed the environmental concerns, suggesting that because of the study going into the project, the environment could come out a winner when mitigation efforts are put in place and money is committed to addressing concerns such as the dumping of raw sewage into Narragansett Bay.
”We are not advocating any development that would harm Narragansett Bay or the environment surrounding it,” said Grant.
Curt Spalding, executive director of Save The Bay, attended Monday’s press conference, but did not speak. When it was over, Spalding said he believes the business leaders are sincerely concerned about the environment and he hopes that the stakeholders process will result in a recommendation that addresses all economic and environmental issues.
”These business leaders have been committed to the environment for years,” said Spalding. “As for the stakeholders process, it is absolutely what I expected. I thought we would have to go back to ground zero and we have.”
Spalding may have shed some light as to why the stakeholders process has given off at least the perception that it has been bogged down. There are federal laws involved, he said, and permit requirements that were not researched properly prior to the process.
”This involves federal permits,” said Spalding. “There are national interests involved here.”
Dean Holt, chairman of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors and chairman and chief executive officer of Fleet Bank Rhode Island, said the time has come to reach a consensus and act “expeditiously.” Such a port, said Holt, would be a “powerful magnet for the establishment of new businesses.”
”The full fledged development of the Quonset Davisville Port and Commerce Park represents a unique opportunity for Rhode Island,” said Holt. “Thousands of high paying jobs, immediate access to world transportation centers, a substantial reduction in the cost of doing business for Rhode Island companies that export”
Frank Montanaro, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, said that building a shipping port at Quonset Point is an opportunity that “only comes around once in a great while.”
”This is an issue in which the business and labor communities are in total agreement,” said Montanaro.
The proposed redevelopment of Quonset Point has been the subject of much study and debate since the United States Navy withdrew from the base in 1973.
“The status quo at Quonset is simply unacceptable,” said James G. Hagan, president of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce. “The park has vastly more potential.”
Sheldon S. Sollosy, president of Manpower Temporary Services, Inc., said that he was probably one of just a few individuals at the press conference who was around when the Navy pulled out of Quonset.
”Now is the time to put the studying aside and go forward,” said Sollosy.
