Rhode Island leaders celebrate new Terminal 5 Pier

From left: R.I. House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi, Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, Gov. Dan McKee, QDC Managing Director Steven J. King, U.S. Sen Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner, R.I. Treasurer James Diossa, R.I. State Sen. Alana DiMario, North Kingstown Councilman Matt McCoy, North Kingstown Town Manager Ralph Mollis, R.I. Rep. Robert Craven, Sr. signal the start of construction at Terminal 5.

Federal, state and local leaders joined the Quonset Development Corporation for a piledriving ceremony to mark the beginning of construction at the Port of Davisville’s Terminal 5 Pier and Blue Economy Support Docks, the first new pier built at Quonset in almost 70 years.

The Terminal 5 Pier will offer specialized berthing spaces to accommodate a variety of offshore wind vessels and other cargoes. The Blue Economy Support Docks and boat ramp will accommodate smaller boats and the short-term docking needs of small businesses, emerging companies and research and development organizations.

The Port of Davisville is one of the Top 10 auto importers in North America and an emerging hub for offshore wind. Rhode Island’s only public port, Davisville supports more than 1,600 jobs and generates $374 million in annual economic output.

“Thanks to the consistent support of our partners in government and the private sector the Port of Davisville is booming,” said QDC Managing Director Steven J. King, P.E. “In the first six months of 2024, auto imports were up 51% over that same period in 2023. 39 offshore wind vessels have already called on Davisville while supporting projects like Revolution Wind and South Fork.”

This expansion will allow Quonset to keep up with rising demand while positioning Quonset – and Rhode Island – as a key offshore wind hub in the North Atlantic.



The Terminal 5 project is part of the Port of Davisville Master Plan, a $234 million initiative that will add a new 50-year service life to the port’s infrastructure.

The project is fully funded through State Fiscal Recovery Funds, allocated to Rhode Island as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. Construction is expected to be completed in 2025.

Quonset COO Chelsea Siefert gives keynote at Commercial Real Estate Summit

QDC Chief Operating Officer Chelsea Siefert (right) gave the keynote address at the New England Real Estate Journal’s 2024 Commercial Real Estate Summit, where she shared the roots of Quonset’s success and the strategic upgrades and expansions happening across the Business Park.

“A key element of Quonset’s success is our unique site readiness program which provides pre-permitted, pre-engineered, shovel ready sites primed for construction within 90 days of a company signing a lease and taking site control,” Siefert said in her remarks.

In the past decade, Quonset’s site readiness program has led to the creation of over 4,000 jobs and $664 million in private investment across 33 developed sites and 36 companies at the Business Park.

“Based on that success, state leaders thought it would be a good idea to apply Quonset’s successful approach statewide. We agreed – and agreed to take the lead on making it happen,” Siefert continued.

Administered by QDC, the Rhode Island Ready program is a statewide industrial site readiness initiative based upon Quonset’s site readiness program. With the Business Park nearly at capacity, RI Ready was designed to create an inventory of pre-permitted properties ready for industrial development, leading to job creation statewide. Enrolled sites are provided technical assistance with engineering, permitting and other approvals along with support that will prepare sites for development activity.

To date, 18 sites are enrolled in Rhode Island Ready, totaling 429 acres. Combined, these sites could host over four million square feet of new industrial buildings.

“Coming up with a way to expand the supply of space for industrial growth in Rhode Island will be a key challenge of the coming decade. The continued growth of our economy, the creation of new jobs and the future prosperity of Rhode Island families depends on it,” Siefert said.

Rhode Island Ready funding available for

 industrial development

In need of economic development tools to draw investment to your community? The Rhode Island Ready program has funding available! This program provides access to an array of services, such as engineering, on-site and off-site improvements and more, designed to create a statewide inventory of pre-permitted properties ready for industrial development.

To qualify, one of the following criteria must apply:

·     A Rhode Island Ready site could be one that allows for upgraded or improved infrastructure in support of industrial use

·     A site could position an existing industrial use or facility for a major expansion

·     Or a site could be for new business, with a minimum of 10 acres, or the ability to support a building that is approximately 100,000 square feet, zoned for industrial use and close to a State Highway

With support from their host city or town, representatives of eligible projects will work with state agencies and regulators to become “RI READY.” For more information about eligible properties and the application process, visit RIReady.org. Questions? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

R&D Technologies to host manufacturing showcase

Quonset company R&D Technologies will host an open house with the largest mobile 3D printing showroom, offering hands-on interaction with Stratasys’ latest technologies.

Attendees can discover 3D-printed parts for manufacturing and end-use applications and prototyping. Register now at no cost to meet with top vendors and industry experts, discuss business needs and explore new manufacturing solutions in Rhode Island.



Registration includes a catered lunch and Del’s Lemonade! 

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