It’s Official! Quonset Business Park
Marks 13,000 Jobs Milestone
The Quonset Development Corporation celebrated its 13,000th job at the Business Park yesterday.
Gov. Dan McKee, Sen. Jack Reed and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse joined state and local officials to mark the major milestone both for Rhode Island and Quonset during an event at REGENT Craft’s headquarters.
Quonset-based REGENT is developing unique seaglider technology, which they describe as “pioneering the future of sustainable maritime mobility, building a new category of electric vehicle that will transport commercial passengers.”
Company CEO Billy Thalheimer said that ultimately the seaglider could transport passengers from Providence to Manhattan in 75 minutes.
Maddie Macfarlane, a Navy veteran recently hired by REGENT, was recognized as Quonset’s “13,000th Employee” at this week’s celebration.
Governor Dan McKee said “Quonset is one of our state’s signature hubs of economic activity, and a perfect example of the economic momentum we’re seeing all across Rhode Island.”
“Thanks to the investments we’ve made, Quonset continues to be a jobs engine,” the Governor added. “Today’s announcement marking the milestone of 13,000 jobs reinforces Quonset’s status as a destination for growing companies with good-paying jobs and careers.”
Quonset is now home to 228 companies with 13,033 people working in every sector of the economy. Rhode Island’s leading economic engine, the Business Park has steadily added 3,000 jobs since the last milestone jobs announcement in 2014, an increase of 30% in only eight years. On an annual basis Quonset generates $4.27 billion in economic output for the state, $1.28 billion in household income for Rhode Island families and $128.8 million in tax revenue.