Economic Activity

LOWERING THE BAR: Walter Reed, managing partner at Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge, said that he expects corporate clients to look to reduce legal expenses. /

Law firms hurt by struggling economy

Economic Activity 12/20/2008

Layoffs, business closures, cost-cutting moves. No, this isn’t going to be another story about the hurting manufacturing industry. This time, it’s about lawyers. Local law...

MIDC stops making new loans

Economic Activity 12/20/2008

A Providence-based nonbank lender catering to “underserved” small businesses owned by minorities and women has stopped taking new loan applications and is considering overhauling...

GOOD SPORTS: Thomas Mezzanotte, executive director of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League, said the move to ease restrictions was to increase exposure. /

RIIL eases restrictions on media at sports events

Economic Activity 12/20/2008

The Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL) has revised its policy to remove a provision intended to prevent media outlets from posting extra photos of...

THE CENTRAL BRANCH on Empire Street would see its hours reduced, while five other branches would close, under a plan approved yesterday by the PPL board of trustees. /

PPL trustees vote to close 5 library branches

Economic Activity 12/19/2008

PROVIDENCE - The Providence Public Library Board of Trustees has voted to shutter five of the library’s nine branches next summer, arguing that doing...

Sovereign to cut 1,000 jobs nationwide

Economic Activity 12/19/2008

PHILADELPHIA – Sovereign Bank said today that it is eliminating about 1,000 jobs in a move that will start before the end of...

High court: Lawmakers can’t serve on CRMC

Economic Activity 12/19/2008

PROVIDENCE – The R.I. Supreme Court, in one of its final landmark rulings under departing Chief Justice Frank J. Williams, left, has rejected House...

THE REF subsidizes small-scale projects, such as the wind turbine at Portsmouth Abbey School. Grants are capped at a maximum of $750,000 per project. /

Renewable Energy Fund accepting applications

Economic Activity 12/19/2008

PROVIDENCE – The R.I. Renewable Energy Fund is open for business. The R.I. Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is now accepting applications to the...

NON-FARM PAYROLLS in the state shrank by 4,000 compared with October and 18,100 compared with a year ago, the DLT said. /

R.I. unemployment rate pauses in November

Economic Activity 12/19/2008

CRANSTON – The number of jobs in Rhode Island dropped by 4,000 in November, the state’s largest monthly decline since April 1991, even as...

R.I. Foundation sets grant record

Economic Activity 12/18/2008

PROVIDENCE – Despite the Ocean State’s record-high unemployment and a steadily worsening national economy, The Rhode Island Foundation this year awarded a total of...