The Senate Corporations Committee will meet today to hear several bills recommended by a legislative commission to encourage development and marketing of Rhode Island’s ports.
On the committee’s calendar are three bills that were among the recommendations of the Special Legislative Commission to Study Potential Economic Opportunities in the Development of Port Facilities in Rhode Island, which recently issued a report after three years of study of the potential economic opportunities associated with Rhode Island’s ports:
2012-S 2436 – This legislation, sponsored by Sen. William A. Walaska (D-Dist. 30, Warwick), creates the Rhode Island Port Marketing Collaborative, in which key stakeholders such as leadership at port facilities, economic development agencies and government entities will collaborate on marketing strategy and coordinate development opportunities. It will also work to develop and maintain a strategic plan for Rhode Island’s ports, facilities and maritime trade, focused on job creation.
2012-S 2438 – This resolution sponsored by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New Shoreham) petitions the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) to officially include the ports of Rhode Island as “official participating destination ports” on the Marine Highway Corridor.
2012-S 2439 – Sponsored by Sen. James C. Sheehan (D-Dist. 36, Narragansett, North Kingstown), this resolution petitions Rhode Island’s congressional delegation to become actively involved as the U.S. Department of Transportation works toward implementation of the Marine Highway Shipping Program to ensure that the U.S. Maritime Administration designates the ports of Davisville and Providence as participants.
[mappress]
Dredging Today Staff, February 28, 2012