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AP FILE PHOTO/JACQUELYN MARTIN[/caption]
1. R.I. misses out on $1B in federal funding for economic projects POSTED ONLINE: SEPT. 2
Ambitions to jump-start the state’s biotech and blue economies with multimillions in federal funding were dashed after neither Rhode Island finalist was named as a winner of the Build Back Better Regional Challenge. Two groups with Rhode Island connections had been among the 61 finalists, one from the University of Rhode Island Foundation, and a multistate biotech coalition called BioConnects New England. bit.ly/3UYstXE
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COURTESY I-195 REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMISSION[/caption]
2. Corporate HQ, apartment project picked for vacant Fox Point land POSTED ONLINE: SEPT. 21
Plans to develop vacant riverfront land with corporate office headquarters and mixed-income apartments advanced after the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission selected the preferred developer for the land known as Parcel 8 and 8A in Providence. The project by D+P Real Estate Inc. was one of two competing proposals for the riverfront real estate flanking the highway. bit.ly/3edoExq
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COURTESY ABDO DEVELOPMENT[/caption]
3. Developer ditches proposal for downtown Providence hotel, wants apartments instead POSTED ONLINE: SEPT. 21
The hotel part of the Hotel Hive project planned for downtown Providence is off the table. In its place, the developer, Jim Abdo, wants to turn the former Providence Journal building on Westminster Street into an apartment complex with retail and coworking space, and is asking the city for a new tax deal to do it. The request comes after several years of delays on the initial plan, which was a $39 million boutique hotel. bit.ly/3Ce1dvS
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AP FILE PHOTO/JOHN ANTCZAK[/caption]
4. Winter electric rate hikes approved despite protest POSTED ONLINE: SEPT. 23
The R.I. Public Utilities Commission voted 3-0 to allow Rhode Island Energy to charge higher winter electric rates beginning Oct. 1. The rate hikes drew concern from community advocates who warned of mass utility shutoffs and homelessness, with a small group of protestors temporarily stopping discussion during the meeting.bit.ly/3Eg2FAu
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COURTESY RUBIUS THERAPEUTICS INC.[/caption]
5. Rubius to lay off about 70 R.I. employees, considering sale of Smithfield facility POSTED ONLINE: SEPT. 13
Rubius Therapeutics Inc. plans to lay off 75% of its workforce, including about 70 of its 101 employees in Rhode Island, and is “exploring the sale of its manufacturing facility” in Smithfield. The Cambridge, Mass.-based company is “in active discussions with several companies … about the potential sale of the site.” bit.ly/3M7T7tb
6. Brown ranks No. 13 nationally in U.S. News’ annual Best Colleges report; PC remains top regional university in North POSTED ONLINE: SEPT. 12 bit.ly/3e5d9YR
7. Brown University dropout sells design company for $20B in cash and stock POSTED ONLINE: SEPT. 16 bit.ly/3RDdSOv
8. Raimondo calls for ‘a new blue economy’ POSTED ONLINE: SEPT. 21 bit.ly/3M8h0ki
9. U.S. judge favors trucking industry over RhodeWorks tolls POSTED ONLINE: SEPT. 21 bit.ly/3M8aqKL
10. Crisafulli, head of Bally’s R.I. operations, to retire POSTED ONLINE: SEPT. 16 bit.ly/3fLfvwq
