City Council - Providence Business News

Are tax and fee hikes in Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley’s...

Government 04/18/2025

Mayor Brett P. Smiley’s proposed $624.2 million budget for fiscal 2026 includes a host of tax and fee hikes to help cover a projected...

Cannabis shops have incentive to fit in

Economy 06/07/2024

Retail cannabis shops will be appearing in more Providence neighborhoods, whether businesses already there want them or not. That doesn’t mean businesses and others opposed...

Outdoor dining expanded in East Providence

Economic Activity 05/09/2024

EAST PROVIDENCE – Outdoor dining is expanding across the city as businesses cope with the Washington Bridge closure. The City Council on Wednesday approved recommendations...

Report: Costco plans for Cranston shelved, for now

Economic Activity 02/01/2024

PROVIDENCE – Plans for a Costco Wholesale Club in Cranston may have fallen through, according to a report Thursday by WPRI-TV CBS 12. The news...

City on right track with tax burden shifts

Editorial and Op-Ed 01/05/2024

No one likes to see increased taxes but kudos to Providence city leaders for at least trying to raise them in the right places...

Should Providence limit the number of college students living in multifamily...

Government 05/05/2023

The Providence City Council is considering extending existing restrictions on the number of college students allowed in single-family housing to some multifamily units. The city...

Public hearing set for hotel-funded Providence tourism district

Economic Activity 11/16/2022

PROVIDENCE – The city finance committee on Tuesday set a public hearing on a proposal to create a special district to raise revenue in...

Woonsocket City Council removes mayor from office

Government 10/06/2022

WOONSOCKET – The City Council has removed Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt from office in a split vote early Thursday morning, WPRI-TV CBS 12 reported. After two...

DECISION TIME: Providence Mayor Jorge O. Elorza, seated, and the City Council must decide on $10 million in recommended spending for the city’s racial reparations program. Elorza is pictured in February at the announcement of his creation of a panel that has made spending recommendations for the program.  COURTESY CITY OF PROVIDENCE

City must make clearer goals, scope of reparations program

Economy 09/02/2022

Proposed spending for Providence’s still-evolving racial reparations program includes several worthy suggestions. Among them, funding for homeownership, workforce training and support for small businesses. The...