Chamber endorses e-mail for Social Security
LINCOLN – The board of directors of the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, responding to the urging of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, has endorsed an e-mail campaign to Congress supporting reform of the Social Security system. Entitled the Billion Byte March, the campaign is directed at introducing individually owned and controlled savings accounts as part of reform, while retaining the safety net for current participants: the elderly, widows, orphans and the disabled. Some studies have concluded that unless significant changes are made in the collection and distribution of Social Security funds by 2032, the system will be unable to meet its obligations.
Textron acquires leasing company
PROVIDENCE – Textron has announced its acquisition of the Business Leasing Group of Portland, Ore. The company, which employs 65, concentrates on making loans of less than $50,000 to industry, had been owned by BankAmerica, which recently merged with NationsBank. Terms of the acquisition of Business Leasing were not disclosed. Business Leasing reported receivables of $184 million. It will become part of Textron Financial Corp.
T.F. Green’s passenger total sets another record
WARWICK – T.F. Green Airport reported that a record 4,615,309 passengers used the airport this year, a 13.38 percent increase over the previous year. Elaine Roberts, airport corporation director, said T.F. Green could not have achieved those numbers without the low fares being offered by several airlines. T.F. Green, Roberts said, was recently named the lowest fare airport in the nation, tying Las Vegas, in an October 1998 report from U.S. Department of Transportation, Domestic Airline Fares Consumer Report.
GTECH reports Danish lottery contract
WEST GREENWICH – GTECH has reported it has obtained a contract with Dansk Tipstjeneste A/S, Denmark’s national lottery operator, to provide 2,000 lottery terminals.
Landmark seeks OK for addition
WOONSOCKET – Landmark Medical Center is asking the state Department of Health for permission to build a two-story addition to its Woonsocket unit. According to its announcement, the addition would house an ambulatory care center, a radiation therapy center for cancer patients, a community education center, diagnostic support services and several offices for physicians. Cost of the addition is estimated at $12.8 million.
Fatima Hospital, nurses’ union agree
NORTH PROVIDENCE – St. Joseph Health Services of Rhode Island, parent of Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, and United Nurses and Allied Professionals, representing 300 professional nurses at the hospital, have reached agreement on a new contract, the parties announced. The agreement, according to the announcement, provides for a 3 percent wage increase in each year of the contract after the current fiscal year, during which there will be no change in wages. The contract also calls for improved health insurance coverage, with no increase in employee contributions, language that assures the contract will remain in effect in the event of a merger or affiliation, and language guaranteeing the hospital will maintain its current standards of staffing to comply with state and accreditation requirements. The contract is to remain in force through July 2001, with the understanding that the “economic agreement in principle” will extend over four years.
SBA seeks filings for women’s business center
PROVIDENCE – With 70 women in business centers in 38 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, the Small Business Administration plans to add 20 such centers this year, perhaps one in Rhode Island. Since this state does not have such a center, it would be given special consideration if it submits a bid. According to the announcement, successful applicants could receive federal grants of up to $150,000 a year for five years. Ultimately the centers are designed to operate independently of federal funds. The applications period expires Feb. 3, 1999. The centers are intended to provide women entrepreneurs with long-term training and counseling.
Providence/Warwick bureau elects chairman
PROVIDENCE – Thomas G. Souza, executive vice president of Collette Travel Services, Inc. of Pawtucket, has been elected chairman of the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau. Souza replaces John Swen, executive director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation.
Pine hired by Peabody & Arnold law firm
PROVIDENCE – Jeffrey Pine, former Rhode Island attorney general, has joined the Peabody & Arnold law firm as a partner in the firm’s Providence office. Peabody & Arnold LLP, established in 1899 in Boston, also has offices in Portland, Maine. Pine was elected attorney general in 1992 and served in that capacity until this year after deciding not to run for reelection in 1998. He spent most of his career in public service, serving as a prosecutor in the attorney general’s office from 1979 to 1989, after which he went into private practice with a Providence law firm until he was elected attorney general. With Peabody & Brown, Pine he will concentrate on civil and criminal litigation, business, health care and governmental affairs.
AG acts to revoke DiPrete’s pension
PROVIDENCE – In response to actions taken by the state treasurer and Retirement Board, Atty. Gen. Sheldon Whitehouse has filed a civil complaint with the Superior Court on behalf of the Retirement Board to revoke former Gov. Edward DiPrete’s state pension. The state Retirement Board acted at the request of state Treasurer Paul Tavares.
(Compiled from news reports and releases, print and electronic.)
