Providence Business News articles from June 2001, page 2

Providence Business News archives from June 2001

Almond seeks $2.5 million for Quonset port study.(Brief Article)
June 18, 2001... PROVIDENCE -- Supported by 68-page favorable report on the prospects for a container port at Quonset Point/Davisville, Gov. Lincoln Almond has submitted a formal request to the General Assembly for $2.5 million to begin an environmental...

Wiley Center pressing campaign for summer jobs.(Brief Article)
June 18, 2001... PAWTUCKET -- The Campaign to Eliminate Childhood Poverty and the Wiley Center are pursuing a follow-up campaign for more funds to finance a summer jobs program for 14 and 15 year old children throughout the state. This year the Human Resource...

KPMG join sponsors of World Scholar Athletes Games.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 18, 2001... KINGSTON -- KPMG has agreed to sponsor this year's World Scholar Athlete Games that will be held from June 22 through July 1 at the University of Rhode Island. Nearly 2,000 athletes between 15 and 19 years of age who specialize in one of 13...

Nelvana and Hashro reach agreement for high tech robot.(Brief Article)
June 18, 2001... NEW YORK/PRNewswire/ -- Nelvana, the world's largest independent animation company, and Hasbro, Inc., a worldwide leader in children's and family entertainment have reached an agreement in principle that would name Hasbro as worldwide master...

Washington Trust to join Russell 3000.(Brief Article)
June 18, 2001... WESTERLY -- Washington Trust Bancorp has been included on a preliminary list of companies to be added to the Russell 3000 index, an index that measures the performance of the country's 3,000 largest public companies, based on market...

Rhode Island Stock Watch.(Statistical Data Included)
June 18, 2001... Rhode Island Stock Watch Stock Div./ P/E 52 week Company name symbol share ratio high Aerovox (O) ARVX - 0 4.50 Belo (N) ...

Looking for signs of inflation? Start with housing.(rising home sales as evidence of economic change)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 18, 2001... NEW YORK -- The glass that is the U.S. economy is clearly more than half empty. The latest soundings on everything from manufacturing to employment to capital spending to productivity to corporate earnings have been lousy. There is scant...

GTECH Holdings, Corp.(Brief Article)
June 18, 2001... GTECH, the sometimes controversial online lottery company, operates or supplies 28 of the 38 online lottery authorities in the United States and has agreements to operate or supply 54 of the 94 online lotteries internationally. The company,...

Quonset Port study.(Brief Article)
June 18, 2001... An environmental of impact study to determine the port development at Quonset Point/Davisville is long overdue. The study should have been undertaken when it was first conceived that a major port was under consideration for Quonset. How...

Downtown parking.(Waterplace Park)(Brief Article)
June 18, 2001... Last week the process to build an impressive hotel/ condo/office building at Waterplace Park (known as parcel 2) moved closer to reality, but still failed to address one of the area's most critical issues - parking. While the proposed...

Theater arts collaboration should be more inclusive.(Column)
June 18, 2001... A week ago we applauded the collaboration between Brown University and Trinity Repertory Company to establish a premier arts education program at Brown, offering a master's degree from the prestigious Ivy League School and incorporating...

Support urged for health care providers.
June 18, 2001... While many in the baby boom generation monitor their stock market investments and fret over the future of Social Security funds, they're overlooking an. even greater threat to their safe and secure retirement -- the availability and training...

Amused reader amuses editors.
June 18, 2001... Dear Editor, As a long time subscriber to your paper, I generally look forward to receiving my paper on Monday to enjoy with lunch. The facts in the attached article, were quite amusing. As I am sure you must be paying your...

Minerva's friendly ways hold the customers.(Minerva Pizza House)(Brief Article)
June 18, 2001... Ari Tsonis has not changed the recipe for 30 years. The owner of Minerva Pizza House in Providence's Wayland Square, Tsonis said consistency is one of the reasons his customers keep coming back. On a typical Saturday night Tsonis emerges...

Secretary of State offers guides for new businesses.(Rhode Island Secretary of State Edward S. Inman)(Brief Article)
June 18, 2001... It's estimated that 4,000 new businesses are incorporated in Rhode Island each year. And from the bake shop in Coventry to the gas station in Pawtucket, they all have different compliance regulations, that, according to Rhode Island...

Small business must develop that niche.(Rhode Island Small Business Development Center)(Brief Article)
June 18, 2001... Small retailers can still find success -- even in the shadows of the big box stores and eCommerce -- but new businesses must find a niche, experts say. "You need to find an industry niche, whether it's a geographical location -- Wickford...

Areas Office Furniture Dealers.(Illustration)
June 18, 2001... Areas Office Furniture Dealers (ranked by number of full time employees) 2001 2000 Rank Rank Company 1 5 Sheehan's Office Interiors, Inc. 524 Park Ave. Portsmouth, R.I. 02871 (401) 683-3150, Fax:...

Managing your time when you don't have any.(Brief Article)
June 18, 2001... No one has enough time any more. Our business demands are more complex. Our families have more options facing them than ever before. Communications and travel advances have opened up access to entertainment and recreation that we'd never...

Business Notes.(Sara Beth Elliott has joined Trainor Communications Group)
June 18, 2001... ADVERTISING Diane M. Dorval has been appointed special events manager at Providence advertising, marketing and public relations firm Gregory/Cooney/Belt, Inc. She was formerly employed in sales at Monarch Properties, Inc. in Rehoboth,...

Look to your library as a business resource.
June 18, 2001... Your local library can be an outstanding resource for market research, honing computer skills or hosting a meeting. Call these or the library in your area to inquire about other ways your library can help you -- and your business. ...

Fed's Employment Training offers abundant assistance.
June 18, 2001... If you are looking for that special program designed to help train workers at your company or organization, the federal Department of Labor's Employment Training Administration may be a good place to start. Individuals looking to make...

DLT's various programs help jobless, underskilled.(The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training)(Brief Article)
June 18, 2001... The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training offers so many training programs that Director Dr. Lee Arnold said he couldn't even count them all. However, Arnold did estimate how many people the Rhode Island DLT helps every year. "In...

If you need a consultant, be sure to get what you need.(Rhode Island Small Business Development Center)
June 18, 2001... In today's business world, there is much more to success than balancing the hooks. In fact, company presidents and CEOs are worrying about increasing productivity, coaching top executives, reducing company turnover, and finding the right...

Chamber slates seminar on taxes for multi-state firms.(Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce)(Brief Article)
June 18, 2001... A tax seminar for area businesses active in more than one state will be held Wednesday, June 20, sponsored by the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce. The state and local tax (SALT) seminar will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. at the...

Rhode Island City/Town 2000 Annual Average Labor Force Statistics.
June 18, 2001... Rhode Island City/Town 2000 Annual Average Labor Force Statistics Resident Labor Employment Unemployment Force Rate State of Rhode Island 484,214 20,586...

New style of business leadership shifts focus to people.(Brief Article)
June 18, 2001... "Why are we at Microsoft?" bellowed Microsoft billionaire executive Steve Ballmer to a crowd of 9,000 employees at the Kingdome, a Seattle indoor stadium. "For the money!" he screamed. "Show me the money!" The crowd responded with a roar:...

Businesses pay workers' compensation penalties.(Brief Article)
June 18, 2001... The state Department of Labor and Training Workers' Compensation Unit has assessed and collected penalties of approximately $42,000 against 10 Rhode Island companies for failure to provide workers' compensation insurance coverage for their...

EXECUTIVE POLL.(Providence Business News)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 18, 2001... The Providence Business News/Johnson & Wales executive poll is a weekly survey of 70 top business leaders throughout the state, representing small and large companies in a variety of industries and businesses. QUESTION: The General...

Mass Layoff Events.
June 18, 2001... Mass Layoff Events Initial Claimants for Mass Layoff Events Unemployment Insurance April April April ...

Firms shift health care approach.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... After suffering through a few years of steep health-premium increases, Pawtucket-based American Insulated Wire recently switched to an out-of-state HMO in hopes of keeping costs in check. The company, which employs 1,000 workers...

Sailing champ leads sales of sailboat.(Jean Pierre Mouligne)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... Jean Pierre Mouligne is trying to translate his professional sailing successes into the marketing arena. He certainly picked the right product. The longtime Newport resident recently agreed to spearhead the U.S. sales effort for a line...

Safe U.S. transport highest priority.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... If you have experienced the disruption a computer bug can cause in a small office -- or even at home -- you can just imagine the potential for problems should a computer virus or ill-intentioned hacker infiltrate a larger computer system --...

Claims bill clears Senate, draws NAII opposition.(National Association of Independent Insurers)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... The State Senate has approved a bill that Would make it an unfair claims practice for insurance companies to base claim settlements on computer-generated information. As of press time, the bill was pending in a House committee. The...

Bell Helicopter opens center.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... Bell Helicopter, a Textron company, has opened its Composites Center of Excellence in Fort Worth, Texas. The 339,000-square-foot facility is the world's foremost aerospace industry material fabrication center. The lighter, stronger and...

Rules key to trade success.(exporting)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... Ensuring that your products get to where they're going - on time - is a critical element to any company exporting goods. These days - as more businesses look to exporting to an international marketplace as a way to weather the storm of a...

Experts address questions at Bryant conference.(World Trade Day)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 11, 2001... Taking advantage of an expanding global market is among the biggest challenges facing many businesses today, but it might have been made easier recently by a variety of speakers assembled at Bryant College for its l6th annual World Trade Day....

HELP for Providence has wisdom at its core.(Health & Education Leadership for Providence)(Louis Fazzano)(Interview)
June 11, 2001... Name: Louis Fazzano Age: 80 Position: President of Health & Education Leadership for Providence. Education: Yale University. Bachelor of Business Administration; Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration...

Tiffany opening buoys jewelry makers.(new facility information)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... Considered one of the world's leading jewelry manufacturers, Tiffany & Co. recently opened a facility in Rhode: Island -- an opening seen by many in the state as a spark of life in an industry plagued by overseas competition and rising...

URI collaborates with Greek Centre for Marine Research.(University of Rhode Island)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... A collaboration between the University of Rhode Island and the National Centre for Marine Research in Greece could mean increased opportunities for local scientists and students. Last month University of Rhode Island President Robert...

Office round robin nets results.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... At first glance it looks as it commercial tenants in Providence's downtown financial district are playing musical chairs with the space they lease. But a closer look at the recent round robin of announced moves and lease signings at...

Biz bills move in Assembly close.(tax policy for aviation fuel)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... As the 1986 General Assembly session headed for adjournment, the Chamber of Commerce Federation was sounding a tull-fleged call to arms over the issue of imposing a 5 centper-gallon aviation fuel, tax at Green State Airport in Warwick. ...

Narragansett Bay aquaculture hopes washing out?(industry information)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... Despite flurries of interest in aquaculture over the last five years, the marine farming industry has yet to take hold in Narragansett Bay. Permits for sizable aquaculture operations instate-controlled waters have fun into stiff...

Global trade a 'battleground' for varied agendas.(international trade analysis)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... New alliances and new agendas have added to the complexities of international trade. "On trade issues, there hasn't ever been a time that I can think of when there have been so many challenges," said Washington-based International Trade...

Choices dwindle but summer rentals still possible.(Rhode Island real estate rentals)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... Summer rentals may be scarce, but according to area real estate agents if prospective renters are flexible they need not give up hope. Joseph Robenhymer, owner/broker for Ann O'Brien Realty in Narragansett, usually has most of his several...

Malls held safe for public despite recent incidents.(local shopping center crime information)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... A recent issue of Shopping Centers Today claims a marked decline in interest in mall crime, citing a decrease in violence and media boredom with the subject as reasons the issue has been kept out of the spotlight. But in Rhode Island,...

Unhappy engineer finds his way with weathervanes.(David Ferro of Crosswinds Gallery Inc)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... Company: Crosswinds Gallery Inc. Owner: David Ferro Year founded: 1990 Location: Buttonwood Street, Bristol Employees: 11 Type of business: Weathervane manufacturer Annual revenues: $1 million David Ferro,...

KVH and STAGPARKWAY to serve land mobile markets.(partnership contract information)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... The KVH Trac Vision family, a distributor of mobile satellite television antennas, received another boost recently when KVH announced a new working relationship with the Atlanta-based STAGPARKWAY, the nation's largest distributor of parts and...

Home Furnishing Association honors Richmond business.(Chariho Furniture )(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... The Home Furnishing Association of New England announced that Chariho Furniture in Richmond has been named New England Retailer of the Year. The award is presented annually to a retail home-furnishing dealer in recognition of their ethical...

Chamber urges lawmakers to end federal prison industry preference.(effects on small businesses discussed)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... The United States Chamber of Commerce recently announced its support for the House Small Business Committee's examination of unfair federal preference for Federal Prison Industries that shut small businesses out of competition for government...

RItech appoints Licht, Nadolink to board.(Rhode Island Technology Council )(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... PROVIDENCE -- The Rhode Island Technology Council announced the addition of two prominent business and community leaders to its board of directors. The newly elected members are Richard A. Licht, and Dr. Richard Nadolink. Licht, a...

Computerworld names Fleet 'Best to Work In IT'.(FleetBoston Financial Inc)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... BOSTON -- FleetBoston Financial has announced that Fleet has been ranked eighth in Computerworld Magazine's "100 Best Places to Work in IT." For the eighth year in a row, Computerworld conducted its annual survey to identify the 100 best...

URI College of Business Hall of Famers tackle economy at roundtable.(University of Rhode Island)
June 11, 2001... KINGSTON, R.I. -- Four of this year's six inductees into the University of Rhode Island's College of Business Administration Hall of Fame gathered before a banquet earlier this spring for a roundtable discussion on the high-tech economy,...

Myths that menace selling success.(sales management theory and techniques)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... Selling is a tough job. Anyone who doesn't think so is not in sales. If you sell, you're never finished; there is always the next customer, a problem to solve, a crisis need, or a meeting to attend. By its very nature, selling can produce...

Ibis trimming workforce.(Ibis Technology Corp)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... DANVERS - Ibis Technology Corp. announced that it was cutting its work force by 14 percent in an effort to cut costs. A parts manufacturer for the technology industry, Ibis attributed the layoffs to the continuing decline in the...

Genzyme building new plant in Framingham.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... CAMBRIDGE -- Genzyme Corp. announced that it would build a new 300,000 square foot drug production plant in Framingham adjacent to its campus there next to the Mass. Turnpike. Construction is expected to begin in August, with the plant...

Gemini Genomics bought by California firm.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... NEWTON - Gemini Genomics PLC, whose U.S. headquarters is located here has been acquired by Sequenom, Inc. of San Diego, Calif. in a $238 million stock deal, the Boston Globe reported. The deal arose from a collaborative arrangement between...

Maynard start-up reports new financing.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... MAYNARD - AP Engines, a start-up company that sells software that allows companies to use existing billing systems to charge for advanced systems announced that it has acquired $30 million in new venture and debt financing, the Boston Globe...

SpeechWorks says Union Pacific Railroad to use system.(SpeechWorks International)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... BOSTON (Bloomberg) -- SpeechWorks International Inc. said Union Pacific Corp., owner of the largest U.S. railroad, will use Speech Works voice-recognition technology to let customers arrange to return rail cars once freight is delivered....

Artificial Life fires almost all employees, closes offices.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... BOSTON (Bloomberg) -- Artificial Life Inc., a money- losing software developer, said it fired all but a few of its workers in the U.S. and abroad, shut its Russian offices and is seeking bankruptcy protection for units in Germany and...

Shareholders endorse change to Covansys Corporation.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Shareholders formally endorsed "Covansys Corporation" as the new legal name for the former Complete Business Solutions, Inc. The shareholder vote, coming during their annual meeting at the Detroit...

Fleet buys Liberty Financial for $900 million.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 11, 2001... BOSTON -- FleetBoston Financial Corp. has agreed to pay $900 million in cash and assume $110 million in debt to acquire Liberty Financial Cos. Fleet will acquire $51 billion in assets under management from Liberty which, when added to Fleet's...

Fleet Mortgage acquired by Washington Mutual.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 11, 2001... BOSTON -- Fleet Mortgage Corp., a unit of FleetBoston Financial Corp. has been acquired by Washington Mutual, Inc. of Seattle. As a result, Washington Mutual becomes the nation's largest mortgage lender, Business Wire reported. This is based...

Boston, China agree on weekly service.(Massachusetts Port Authority)(China Ocean Shipping Company Group)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... BOSTON -- The Massachusetts Port Authority and a Chinese shipping company have reached agreement on weekly steamship service between Boston and the Far East starting next year --if minimum cargo quotas can be met. The China Ocean Shipping...

PerkinElmer reports stock split.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... BOSTON -- PerkinElmer, Inc. has split its outstanding common stock two for one in the form of a 100 percent stock dividend, according to Registration Statements filed with the Security and Exchange Commission. The split relates to 500,000...

TJX Companies report common stock dividend.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- The TJX Companies, Inc. announced the declaration of a regular quarterly dividend on its common stock at the quarterly rate of $.045 per share, payable August 30, 2001, to shareholders of record on August 9, 2001. TJX is...

Fidelity wins contract to manage Mass. Municipal Funds.(Fidelity Investments)(Massachusetts Municipal Depository Trust)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... BOSTON (Bloomberg) -- Fidelity Investments, the largest U.S. mutual fund company, won for a second time a contract from the Massachusetts Municipal Depository Trust to manage its money. Fidelity won the last bid process in 1994, the...

Tweeter gets Sound Advice.(Tweeter Home Entertainment Group)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 11, 2001... CANTON, Mass. (Bloomberg) -- Tweeter Home Entertainment Group Inc., the consumer-electronics retailer that bought SMK Marketing Inc., agreed to buy Sound Advice Inc. for about $117 million to add 33 stores in Florida and Arizona. Under the...

Group, including Peter de Savary, buying Kaiser complex.(Carnegie Harbor Village L.P)(Kaiser Industries)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... PORTSMOUTH - The vacant Kaiser industrial complex overlooking Narragansett Bay is being acquired by a local area group led by Peter de Savary, British entrepreneur and former challenger for the America's Cup, the Providence Journal reported....

Verizon opens new dispatch center in Providence.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... PROVIDENCE - Verizon has moved its dispatch center from Pawtucket to Providence, adding about a dozen jobs in the process. The relocated dispatch will bring 100 employees to the company's main office on Washington Street in Providence....

Ann & Hope opening new discount store.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... CUMBERLAND - Ann & Hope announced that it would open its new Ann & Hope Outlet Center here five months after announcing it would close all of its discount stores, from Warwick to Watertown, Mass. At the time of its earlier announcement, the...

Channel 12 bought by Florida company; anchor dropped.(Sunrise Television Corp.)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... EAST PROVIDENCE - Sunrise Television Corp., of St. Petersburg, Fla., has acquired Channel 12, WPRI-TV, the company announced last Tuesday. Two of the station's news anchors, Ann Conway and Steve Wieczek were fired along with three other...

GTECH wins Polish contract.(GTECH Holdings Corp. to supply software to Polish national lottery)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... WEST GREENWICH - GTECH Holdings Corp. has won a $100 million contract from the Polish national lottery to supply it with software, the company announced. GTECH beat competition from the current software supplier, AWl, a U.S.-based company,...

Mill restoration ordinances sent to city council.
June 11, 2001... PROVIDENCE Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr. has submitted two ordinances to the city council designed to preserve and utilize historic industrial and commercial buildings in the city. The intent of the ordinances is to expand the so-called M-1...

Gypsy moths visiting briefly.(oak tree damage estimates)(Brief Article)
June 11, 2001... PROVIDENCE - Gypsy moths, often referred to as "tent moths," are appearing in the northeast part of the state, but should be gone by the Fourth of July, the Department of Environmental Management reports. The moths have been spotted in North...

Stockwatch Index.
June 11, 2001... Stockwatch Index June 5, 2001 1123.41 DOWN 1.65 (-0.15%) Dow Jones 11175.84 UP 136.7 (+1.24%) NASDAQ 2233.66 UP 58.12 (+2.67%) Russell 516.48 UP 14.11 (2.81%) S&P 500 1283.57 UP 15.64 (+1.23%) Gainers & Losers...

Maybe he's right, maybe he's wrong.
June 11, 2001... NEW YORK. -- Recently the Prime Minister of Thailand sacked the governor of the central bank because of his failure to raise interest rates. The PM had previously asked the Bank of Thailand to review its interest-rate policy, which...

Log On America, Inc.
June 11, 2001... Troubled Log On America, at one time a company with stock trading in the mid 20s, is the subject of a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into an offer and sale of the company's securities. The company maintains that none of its...

Suicide intervention in the workplace.
June 11, 2001... The statistics are startling. Look at them on page 1B of this issue -- the suicide scorecard for each community over a two-year period. Most disturbing is the number of young people. There's a sad story behind each, and a difficult legacy...

Trinity-Brown Consortium.
June 11, 2001... "I believe that Providence will become recognized as a center of arts, arts training and the creation of new and experimental work..." And so a few weeks ago, at a Providence Business Newsy/WSBE TV Summit and live broadcast on developing...

The living wage concept: Entitlement or achievement?
June 11, 2001... I remain troubled by this living wage concept, not that I don't understand the need for people to earn a reasonable income to support their families, but by proponents' insistence that the only way to achieve improved pay is by mandating...

ON THE RECORD.
June 11, 2001... "The fact that the company [Tiffany & Co.] chose Rhode Island speaks well of the talent we have. It reaffirms the fact Rhode Island is still the jewelry capital of the world." -- Thomas J. Rossi, general manager of the Manufacturing...

Profile in humility, perseverance, flexibility.
June 11, 2001... Since early last season I have been watching the Chuck Knoblauch drama. Knoblauch is now the starting left fielder for the world champion New York Yankees. Several years ago he broke into major league baseball with the Minnesota Twins. He...

Solutions proposed for the lead problem.
June 11, 2001... There is a map of Providence that shows no streets, only council ward boundaries, but in each ward are red dots representing children between the ages of 12 to 23 months who were lead poisoned in 1999. A rough count indicated 306 marks but a...

Samaritans reach out to business community.
June 11, 2001... The Rhode Island Chapter of the Samaritans has been busy spreading its message lately -- particularly to the business community. Over 50 business people in the Providence area attended a recent informational session at the home of...