It would have been easy to miss some good news coming out of Washington, D.C. last week.
For Rhode Island, such news came in the form of the U.S. Senate’s approval of a final version of a “Military Construction Appropriations” report.
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…
Learn More
Already adopted by the House of Representatives, the spending plan now awaits the signature of President George W. Bush. Rhode Island is the beneficiary of more than $36 million in funding for several military construction projects.
The legislation represents the funding necessary for two Navy projects, including the construction of an Applied Instruction Building ($15.3 million) at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, and an Unmanned Undersea Combat Vehicle Laboratory ($9.4 million) at Naval Station Newport. It also includes the funding to complete construction of a new hangar ($9.6 million) for the Rhode Island Air National Guard and money to build a National Security Research Center and Library at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center. That $1.8 million building would house the War College library and a research center, as well as the strategic studies fellows group and the warfare development command for the Naval War College.
Our entire congressional delegation should be commended.
Even during times of cutbacks in military spending, Rhode Island has fared well in terms of projects fueled by the Department of Defense. In fact, the number of military personnel stationed in Newport has grown in recent years, while so many bases throughout the country have seen drastic reductions.
As we navigate this soft economy, it is encouraging to see that defense spending remains a significant cog for our economy.
