Brown grant prepares Southeast Asian teachers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Brown University has received a $238,535 grant from the U.S Department of Education for the Project IMPACT Program, a five-year program designed to help 15 prospective Southeast Asians receive certification to teach English language learners in Rhode Island schools. It is intended to help them overcome barriers to approved teacher preparation courses at colleges and universities, their own academic success and placement in school districts with culturally and linguistically diverse populations. There are 4,000 Cambodian, Laotian, Hmong and Vietnamese students from kindergarten to 12th grade in Rhode Island, but there are no teachers credentialed to teach English language learners in their schools, according to the office of U.S. Sen. Jack Reed.
New chairman for Convention Center Authority
PROVIDENCE – James S. Bennett of Narragansett has been elected chairman of the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority to succeed J. Timothy O’Reilly, who will remain a member of the board of directors. Bennett, who was appointed to the board of directors by Governor Almond in 1995, was the unsuccessful candidate for state treasurer in 1998. He is president of Mitkem Corp. of Warwick.
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…
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Sale of PierBank OK’d by stockholders
NARRAGANSETT — Stockholders of PierBank have approved the sale of that bank to The Washington Trust Co. The acquisition which will merge PierBank’s assets into the Westerly-based Washington Trust is still subject to approval by state and federal regulators, which is expected to be completed by September.
Providence Place restaurant roster grows
PROVIDENCE – Providence Place mall has announced the addition of Joe’s American Bar & Grill to its growing list of food and drink establishments. The other full-service restaurants lined up for mall customers are Cheesecake Factory, Dave & Buster’s, Fire + Ice, Napa Valley Grill, Pizzeria Uno, Rick’s Bagel Factory and Tacone Wraps. At least part of the mall, including Nordstrom Department Store, is scheduled to open August 20.
RI unemployment up to 3.7 percent
PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island’s unemployment rate crept up to 3.7 percent in May, but still remained below the national average for the fourth consecutive month. The national average was 4.2 percent in May. The state Department of Labor and Training attributed the rise from 3.1 percent in April partly to the loss of 700 manufacturing jobs. A department spokesperson also noted that customary May hiring was lower than normal and attributed that to the mild late winter and spring weather which led construction firms in particular to do their hiring early.
U.S. approves NEES purchase
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved the purchase of the New England Electric System by National Grid PLC of Coventry, England. NEES is the parent company of Narragansett Electric Co. National Grid, reportedly, expects to complete the $3.2 billion purchase within six months.
Pro Systems acquires Computers Plus
CRANSTON – Pro Systems, Inc., has announced its acquisition of Computers Plus, the computer hardware and network technology service division of Process Automation Corporation in East Providence. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. As a result of the acquisition, the company will offer network services in Windows NT, Novell and Unix.
Almond signs $2.2 billion budget
PROVIDENCE – Gov. Lincoln Almond has signed the $2.2 billion budget bill for the 1999 Fiscal Year that includes 21 new employees for the Department of Environmental Management. The new budget increases spending by $175 million, 50 percent of which is dedicated to assisting local communities.
Center for Women and Enterprise to open
PROVIDENCE – With the help of a $150,000 federal grant, the Small Business Administration will develop a center for Women and Enterprise in downtown Providence. The focus of the center will be to assist women to find financing through banks and SBA loan guarantee programs. Workshops, seminars, networking groups and advisory meetings for entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs will be offered at the center. It will also offer financing, technical assistance to women through on-line programs, and links for women business owners with the appropriate SBA resource partner in the area. The program is directed to all Rhode Island women, but an outreach program is planned to reach disadvantaged women in the state.
CVS building distribution center
WOONSOCKET – CVS Corp. announced that it is building a distribution center in Warren County, North Carolina. The company already has such a center seven miles away in Henderson, N.C. The governor’s office said 200 employees at that center will be transferred to the new center when it opens in 2002. The new, 750,000 square foot center in Manson will employ up to 600 workers, the governor’s office said.
