Quonset Business Park Celebrates 10,000 Jobs with Promises for More

Quonset Business Park marked a milestone 10,000th job created on Monday with a ceremony that brought together the highest elected officials in all branches of state government, including the entire congressional delegation.

The Quonset Development Corporation made the announcement that 10,000 people are now working at Quonset Business Park and its Port of Davisville, which is home to nearly 200 companies representing every sector of the economy.

QDC officials and elected officials heralded the growth at Quonset as a shining beacon for the state’s economy to use as a guiding light.

“Quonset Business Park is one of Rhode Island’s greatest assets and an example of how we can grow more jobs in our state,” said Governor-elect Gina Raimondo. “Its success is more than just one industry, or one company. It is about sound investments, and a team at the Quonset Development Corporation working with companies to help them grow, create jobs and opportunities for Rhode Island families. While I am glad to be here to celebrate the 10,000 job milestone, I look forward to seeing many thousands more created in the years to come.”

So who was the 10,00th employee? None other than Justin Jay, 32 of Warwick, who just got a job at AmWINS, a third-party employee benefits provider after working for two months as a temporary employee -- just about when the milestone would have been reached, according to the QDC’s count.

Jay got a plaque and proclamation from Governor Lincoln Chafee to mark his special role in Quonset’s success, which began in earnest in the mid 2000s at the former air station and construction battalion base.

Officials said the success at Quonset is due in part to an ongoing investment, both at the state and federal levels, in infrastructure and forward-planning.

Sen. Jack Reed, for example, has been instrumental in Quonset securing $182 million in Federal Highway Administration funds, $55 million for the Freight Rail Improvement Project and $22.3 million through a TIGER grant for a crane and additional infrastructure for sea shipping.

Those investments helped to transform the Quonset area from a rapidly-aging former military complex into a sprawling and inviting place for business. A new access road was built and connections to highways were drastically improved. Rail capacity was increased. And QDC has steadily completed site engineering and environmental work across the 3,207 acre parcel they manage, offering companies looking for real estate the prospect of rapid approval.

“This is a significant milestone for Quonset Business Park and the Rhode Island economy. Quonset’s success reflects years of investments at the federal and state level. And sustaining this growth means we’ve got to keep working to ensure Quonset is well positioned to compete, both now and in the future,” said Senator Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee.

“This is a great day for Quonset, North Kingstown, and for Rhode Island,” said Steven J. King, managing director of the QDC. “We wanted to take a moment to recognize the enormous growth we have experienced here at Quonset. It hasn’t been easy, and we still have more growth to come, but thanks to Governor Chafee, the tireless work of our federal delegation, and so many others we are proving that we can help companies succeed and bring greater economic growth to Rhode Island.”