Former jewelry employees to get federal assistance

TAA is a federal program that offers extended unemployment benefits and job training to workers left jobless when imported good have contributed significantly to their jobs less.

Founded in 1906, Little & Company specialized in the manufacture of popularly priced karat gold earnings. Little & Company recently was acquired by Aurafin OroAmerica, LLC. Aurafin, a privately held company based in Fort Lauderdale that manufactures and distributes gold jewelry to retail jewelers, jewelry chain stores, discount stores and department stores.

In response to a petition filed in July on behalf of former Aurafin employees, the Department of Labor began an investigation of the workers’ eligibility for federal assistance. The investigation revealed that sales and employment at the Rhode Island facility declined as the firm shifted a portion of production to an affiliate factory in the Dominican Republic.

Washington Trust provides
financing for Alice Building

WESTERLY – The Washington Trust Company announced that is has closed a $4 million commercial mortgage for Alice Group LLC., owner of the Alice Building located at 236-250 Westminster Street in Providence.

The seven-story classic revival structure was built in 1898 by Woonsocket Rubber Company founder Joseph Banigan. Named after Banigan daughter, Alice, the building is believed to believed to be the first vertical retail center in the United States and is listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings. It has been renovated for mixed use as residential and retail space, with 38 loft-style apartments on the upper floors and retail space located at street level.

Rehabilitation of the Alice Building was preformed by Cornish Associates, a Providence-based group of development professionals.