All Entries in the "Regional" Category
Healthsource RI Enrolls 500th Small Business
Small businesses enrolled in SHOP have access to a total of 20 different health insurance plan options from three insurance carriers–Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island and UnitedHealthcare. SHOP also offers an innovative ‘full employee choice’ option that allows employers to determine a contribution level (also called “defined contribution”). Employees can then choose from any of the 20 plans offered and opt for the level of coverage that works best for them and their families.
Sam Iserson, president of NC3 in Pawtucket, says the full choice model is one of the reasons he joined SHOP. “Using HealthSource RI gives our employees options that they never had before. It provides them the opportunity to be better educated consumers and really understand the cost and benefit of their healthcare.”
Behind strong 2015 enrollment numbers, including an 89% renewal rate and a 57% growth rate, Rhode Island continues to be a leader of state-based exchanges in enrolling small businesses.
“Growth is strong and we look forward to serving even more small businesses by making it easier to understand and purchase insurance and by providing better choices,” said Director Anya Rader Wallack. “Employers and their brokers like our innovative full choice model, the outstanding customer service provided by our business engagement spets, and the predictability of rates published up to a year in advance. These features don’t exist elsewhere.”
Two years ago, when the federal government and some state-run exchanges decided to delay their small business programs, HealthSource RI remained committed to SHOP. Rhode Island’s small business program opened on schedule in October 2013.
Noted Wallack, “One of the key tenets of HealthSource RI’s mission is to provide value to small businesses, and we are very proud to be helping so many Rhode Island employers and employees purchase healthcare in a way that meets their needs.”
Small employers who are interested in joining SHOP can contact HealthSource RI’s small business team at 1.855.683.6757 or visit the small business section of HealthSourceRI.com.
Celebrate Fall in Newport, Rhode Island. Festivals, Fairs and Food and Wine Events Mark the Flavor of the Season.
Newport, RI – September 24, 2014 – Upon autumn’s arrival, Newport, Rhode Island and its surrounding eight coastal communities traditionally welcome a substantial increase in international visitors, meetings and conferences, motorcoach and cruise ship passengers. There’s no doubt New England’s legendary cacophony of color lures those from near and far to celebrate nature’s bounty which is fêted at special events throughout our destination. Some of these autumnal experiences include:
Bristol-Warren Art Night: The last Art Night of the season, September 25, features artist studio tours and galleries in both towns. Ride along the Art Night trolley (while taking in the changing shades of leaves along the way) with a guided tour of every stop featured on the event complete with great entertainment and good company. artnightbristolwarren.org
Blithewold Fall Foliage Yoga Series: Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum has joined forces with Bristol Yoga Studio to offer a true connection to nature through peaceful yoga sessions surrounded by an inspiring, ever-changing landscape. All levels of experience are welcome on Thursdays through October 16. blithewold.org
Norman Bird Sanctuary Annual Harvest Fair: Marking its 40th anniversary October 4-5, this family friendly, old fashioned-style country fair features a “monkey bridge,” greased climbing pole, the Mabel Express barrel train, tug-o-war, the “famous” (or infamous) mud pit, plus a home and garden competition, field games, crafters, a country store, music and more. normanbirdsanctuary.org
Behind the Vines: This VIP experience at Newport Vineyards on October 11 is lead exclusively by a Newport Vineyards winemaker. Guests will embark on a 1.5 hour hike into the vines exploring each step of the grape growing process and analysis. A private wine tasting and picnic lunch will follow in the meadow overlooking the vineyard.newportvineyards.com
International Oktoberfest: Seasonal brews and savory Bavarian cuisine will complement the lively and spirited sounds of German music spilling from the Biergartens at the Newport Yachting Center October 11-12. Traditional fare includes brats, schnitzel, sauerbraten, potato pancakes and more. This year, there will be two Biergartens and expanded outdoor courtyard space for all the festivities. Families with younger children and strollers as well as senior patrons are encouraged to attend on Sunday, the less congested of the two-day celebration. newportwaterfrontevents.com
Newport Rhode Races: Runners can choose from a marathon, half marathon or a 5k race on October 12 in the City by the Sea. Each course highlights our local history and breathtaking oceanside scenery, providing some of the most spectacular runs in the country. (The Newport Half Marathon was voted the best half marathon in the Northeast by Competitor Magazine in 2011.) eidentracing.com
Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival: It’s a “Harvest of the Sea” on historic Bowen’s Wharf to toast autumn’s bounty October 18-19. Local restaurants and fishermen prepare their best dishes under tents around the wharf accompanied by live music all weekend long. Spirits, soft drinks and desserts are all available, as well as seating throughout the wharf. Chefs dish up their prized lobster dinners, clam chowders, “stuffies,” clam cakes, shrimp, scallops, raw oysters and a few dishes even a landlubber can love. Named one of the “10 Fabulous Fall Festivals on the Coast,” by Coastal Living Magazine.bowenswharf.com
Newport Food Truck Festival: Food Truck Festivals of New England has saved the best stop for last. On October 25, nearly two dozen trucks will descend on the Newport Yachting Center to serve up a diverse array of made-to-order dishes from gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches and duck tacos to ethnic specialties and sweet treats. foodtruckfestivalsofne.com
Pell Bridge Run: Perhaps the most unique road race experience in the Northeast, this once-a-year opportunity for pedestrians to run or walk across the Claiborne Pell Bridge on October 26 from Jamestown to Newport raises funds for local not-for-profit organizations. pellbridgerun.com
Newport Restaurant Week: More than 45 restaurants throughout Newport and Bristol Counties will offer seasonal three-course dishes at prix-fixe prices: $16 for lunch, $35 for dinner, November 7-16. Enjoy a new (or new-to-you) restaurant or an old favorite during this 10-day culinary extravaganza that concludes with a very special grand finale. Taste, dine and celebrate some of the area’s top restaurants, caterers, bakeries and confectionaries at the 31st annual Taste of Newport on November 16, which has been re-designed to incorporate and expand on the traditional Taste format with a collaborative dining experience, all to benefit Child & Family and its many programs and services for families. discovernewportrestaurantweek.org
Pick You Own: It’s the perfect time of year to taste fall’s bounty at local farms. Sweet Berry Farm in Middletown (sweetberryfarmri.com )offers pick your own apples, peaches and pumpkins through the end of October while Rocky Brook Orchard, Aquidneck Island’s original pick-your-own orchard (rockybrookorchard.com), offers more than 60 apple varieties for picking on weekends through Columbus Day.
Images of select events available.
ABOUT DISCOVER NEWPORT
Discover Newport is the official destination management organization (DMO) dedicated to promoting the City of Newport and the eight surrounding coastal townships in Newport and Bristol counties, Rhode Island. These include Barrington, Bristol, Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth, Tiverton and Warren. As a non-profit organization, Discover Newport partners with stakeholders throughout our tourism and hospitality industry to market the region as a premiere destination for business and leisure travel.
The Municipal Road and Bridge Revolving Fund
By working together, we can accomplish so much for Rhode Island. The Municipal Road and Bridge Revolving Fund is an example of an innovative program developed in part by Treasury that was overwhelmingly supported by the General Assembly in their FY 2015 budget.
During this legislative session, the Fund received two separate appropriations for $5 million and $3.3 million respectively, for a total of $8.3 million. This adds to the $6.9 million that was allocated last year, and has already been put to use across the state. East Providence, Pawtucket, Newport, Burrillville, New Shoreham, Westerly and Warwick are all planning projects thanks to this fund.
The Municipal Road and Bridge Revolving Fund provides Rhode Island’s cities and towns with a reliable funding source for long-range planning at a lower interest rate to avoid future debt payments and provide local budget relief.
The Fund was quickly implemented by the Rhode Island Clean Water Finance Agency and the Department of Transportation after its creation in the 2013 legislative session, and continues to build on the success of the Clean Water Finance Agency.
The Municipal Road and Bridge Revolving Fund will help to improve our state’s economy and create more jobs, while supporting Rhode Island’s locally maintained roads and bridges.
We expect more projects will be announced in the upcoming months.
My goal in helping to establish this program is to take direct action towards solving the issues that impact Rhode Islanders daily. The implementation of this fund will create new jobs in the building trades, which will help to compensate for the drop in available construction jobs over the past few years.
The low interest rates attached to the loans will create savings for our cities and towns as they work to repair Rhode Island’s aging roads and bridges.
Our infrastructure is the backbone of our state. By working together, we are taking the steps necessary to make Rhode Island stronger.
from garage to gateway: the first quonset business park small business tenant shares their story
in 1976 Raul Dias had a vision. With $550 of oak boards in his driveway, Dias saw an opportunity to create point of purchase displays to capitalize on the thriving Rhode Island jewelry industry. WIthin 2 years of quickly outgrowing the garage, Dias moved his company Custom Design, Inc. to his first facilty on Farmington Ave in Silver Lake. Over the next two decades, Custom Design worked on diversifying its customer base to continue their growth, even during the eventual decline of the jewelry industry.
In 1996, a unique opportunity presented itself to Dias. The former Quonset Military Base,then home to large corporations Electric Boat and Norad, was looking to expand as a business park. Dias worked closely with late Senator Chafee and the Quonset Naval Commander to officially move his company to Quonset. When asked why Dias moved his growing company to an undeveloped business park, he claims “I’m an old fool with foresight”. Dias clearly saw the benefits of being in Quonset long before it became the thriving community it is today.
Over a decade later, Custom Design is still designing, building and manufacturing 100% of their products in their Quonset facility, in spite of the lower cost of outsourcing these services overseas. Dias believes in keeping all of their manufacturing local to support his nearly 100 employees which he refers to as his family. He is completely committed to Quonset Business Park and looks towards future growth in his current location. With clients now local, national and international in scope, Dias has embraced the “foresight” he envisioned when moving to Quonset.
