Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - August 24, 2018

HOT

300 New Jobs

Carpionato Group and Warwick Mayor Joseph Solomon unveiled plans to create a biomedical destination campus at the Crossings Office Park adjacent to the Crowne Plaza hotel in Warwick. 

This will create 300 new jobs.

“As we continue to identify opportunities to invest in New England, the creation of a bio-medical campus in Warwick that creates good-paying permanent jobs is smart economic development that benefits the city and our state. We believe the synergies created by Ortho Rhode Island and BD on this site will be a catalyst for further bio-medical uses, which we are currently exploring,” said Alfred Carpionato, Chairman, and CEO of Carpionato Group.

HOT

Collette Travel

The Pawtucket company took just a little bit off the sting off the hurt. In the past few months, Pawtucket lost the PawSox, the Gamm Theater, and maybe most importantly, Memorial Hospital closed.

Collette announced it was adding 75 new jobs.

"Now in our 100th year of business, we have witnessed impressive growth over the past few years as consumers have recognized the tremendous value of our broad product offerings that deliver unique, immersive experiences to exciting destinations and more choice for travelers," said Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Robert Colucci. "We're committed to both expansion and development over the next several years, particularly in the areas of technology, marketing and product design and development to meet the demands of our expanding customer base."

HOT

Rhode Island Black Business Association Award Winners

The Rhode Island Black Business Association (RIBBA) has announced the honorees for the 7th annual Awards Gala.

The keynote speaker of the gala is Barrington’s Kas DeCarvalho.

The gala will be held on Friday, October 5 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick.

Click here for tickets.

The Honorees are:

Christine Paige, Owner, Bliss Salon

        Resident of Providence, RI
        PBA Cosmetology Beacon Award winner
        Certificate of Special Recognition in 2017 from Gov. Gina Raimondo

Keno Mullings, Owner, The Mullings Group

        Resident of Providence, RI
        Founder, Institute of Entrepreneurship & Leadership
        Author of The Time Management Handbook

William Cedano, Owner, A & W Mobile Auto Care

        Resident of Pawtucket, RI
        General Treasurer’s Young Leader Award in 2017 
        2018 Graduate of the Met School

Dorothy L. Silva, Founder, DEMCO LLC

        Resident of North Providence, RI
        First and only African American female-founded heavy highway and            road construction company in the state of Rhode Island

Esther Price, Executive Director, St. Martin de Porres Center

        Resident of Warwick, RI
        Social worker for 38 years, working for economic and racial justice
        program nationally recognized as a “Focal Point on Aging”

Mary Schwarz, Head of Governance and Standards, Citizens Bank

        Resident of Cranston, RI
        Closes opportunity divide for young urban adults by strengthening              intern-to-employee pipeline with the Year Up Program

HOT

Residential Real Estate in RI

Prices are up and up - and now finally, some growth in supply.

In July, the number of single-family homes for sale in Rhode Island increased year over year for the first time in 29 months according to the latest report from the Rhode Island Association of Realtors. 

Last month marked the first time in nearly two years that single-family home inventory climbed above 4000. Sales activity lagged behind last year for the fifth consecutive month, which helped increase supply.

While the median sales price grew by 3.5 percent compared to July 2017, the rate of annual increase has fallen for the past three months. All indications are that the market may have reached the tipping point at which supply and demand begin to become more balanced.

The supply of condominiums for sale also increased for the first time in 18 months even though sales rose substantially.  The number of listings in the condo market increased 2.6 percent and closing activity rose 18.1 percent. The median sales price fell 3.1 percent from a year ago to $214,450.

The investor-driven, multifamily home market saw the most gains with inventory 25 percent ahead of July 2017 and closing activity and median price increasing 20.4 and 9.7 percent, respectively.

HOT

Libraries

Adam Echelman with the national "Libraries Without Borders" nonprofit joined GoLocal News Editor Kate Nagle on GoLocal LIVE to talk about partnering with the Providence Community Library (PCL) to provide direct services to Olneyville residents as they use the local laundromat, explore the flea market and return home to the Manton Heights housing development. 

The Legal Literacy Initiative strives to bring library services and legal resources to everyday places frequented by residents and provides help with issues of ongoing concern. The pilot program will run on a regular schedule from July 28 to September 8 on the following days, times and locations:

Learn more here

NOT

Providence Commercial Real Estate

Providence has the 5th highest commercial tax rates in America. And, it may be taking its toll.

One Financial Plaza lost more than $10M since its last sale in 2007

One Citizens Plaza is up for auction.

380 Westminster has lost more than $10M in value in a decade.

Superman has been vacant for more than 5 years.

NOT

RIDOT

The communications around the closing of one of the most important access points to the City of Providence was a press release and press conference. 

Either RIDOT did not understand the implications of the closure or needed to conduct a comprehensive education program to alert the public to the implications.

Either way — RIDOT -- and this week's massive traffic jams -- not too hot.

NOT

Jeanne-Marie DiMasi

Maybe DiMasi is trying to bring the country together?

As GoLocal unveiled, Jeanne-Marie DiMasi, who is running for Rhode Island State Representative -- as a Democrat in District 26 --  is registered as a Republican voter in Palm Coast, Florida where she lived in 2015.

DiMasi, who once served as Town Council President in West Warwick, moved to Florida for “about six months” in 2015, according to an interview with GoLocalProv. She said that when she went to register her car, she registered to vote.

NOT

Donald Trump

The Presidency has not been in such chaos since the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.

The conviction of top campaign advisor Paul Manafort and the guilty plea by Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen are major blows to the Trump and point to a Presidency in chaos.

Photo: Greg Skidmore, Flickr