Auditor General Ernest A. Almonte last week issued a sweeping report on operations at the quasi-public Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, including more than 50 recommendations that could substantially change RIEDC’s operations.
Paramount in its concern is RIEDC’s organizational structure, which the report asserts needs evaluation to assure that it meets economic development expectations and has adequate financial support.
Seifert Systems Invests in Energy Efficiency to Strengthen Operations
For manufacturers, energy is more than just another operating expense. It plays a critical role…
Learn More
Most controversial among the report’s suggestions is what has been among RIEDC’s most contentious issues, development of Quonset Point/ Davisville, including a port facility. Almonte suggests that after five years, and a series of studies costing a million dollars, it’s time for a development plan for a port, perhaps, as well as the 818 remaining acres at Quonset Point/Davisville. That plan should consider, he said, a “separate governing structure” for Quonset/Davisville.
The suggestion of a separate port authority to govern Quonset/Davisville immediately causes concern among the opponents of a container port at Quonset Point. As yet, the development of a port remains an issue.
We believe the auditor general’s report, at first blush, raises some important issues relative to RIEDC’s organizational structure, and its ability to financially support the economic development it has undertaken.
But most important we believe the report is absolutely accurate in calling on the state and RIEDC to finally reach a conclusion on the future of Quonset/Davisville and get on with the project, port or no port. After five years and a million dollars, it is time. That may mean re-creating a port authority to oversee that development. But we will never reach that stage of the debate until there is some conclusion on what exactly it is that we are developing at Quonset/Davisville.
