Providence, RI - Governor Lincoln D. Chafee joined with state officials and local business leaders today to celebrated the beginning of construction of a new Wide World of Indoor Sports facility in the Quonset Business Park in North Kingstown, RI. The new multi-use health and wellness sports complex is expected to create approximately 85 new full- and part-time jobs when completed.
"The Wide World of Indoor Sports will be a great addition to Quonset," Governor Chafee said. "This facility will bring more good jobs to the area while improving community health and wellbeing. I applaud the QDC, DEM, SBA, Bank Newport, OSBDA, and, of course, Stephen and Sandra Sangermano and Dan Fawcett, for the partnership that has made this project possible."
The 76,000 sq. ft. indoor complex, located at 1610 Davisville Road in North Kingstown, is scheduled to open this fall and will include multiple indoor fields and host a variety of sports and leagues for all ages.
Construction of the facility is a result of the successful partnership between the company, Quonset Development Corporation (QDC), Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), Rhode Island District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Bank Newport, and the Ocean State Business Development Authority (OSBDA). The complex is the first parcel to be leased and developed under QDC's new "Site Readiness" program which streamlines and expedites permitting in order to provide pad-ready sites within the business park. DEM worked with QDC to ensure that permits were issued to meet environmental requirements in a timely manner to begin development. Financing for the complex was secured through the SBA, Bank Newport and OSBDA.
"It's people first," said owners Stephen and Sandra Sangermano and Dan Fawcett. "We take pride in our facilities and providing people of all abilities a first-class sports experience. Sports play such an important role in a young person's life and to the community's health and enjoyment, and we look forward to providing a great experience for children, employees and residents of the area."
"The SBA provides an opportunity for long-term, fixed-rate financing for potential borrowers though its 504 loan program. We are thrilled to be a proud partner with Bank Newport in this project helping Wide World of Indoor Sports establish their new multi-use health and wellness sports facility in North Kingstown, creating jobs and continuing to support small business growth in Rhode Island," said Mark Hayward, District Director of the Rhode Island District Office of the SBA.
"Helping our small business customers, like Wide World of Indoor Sports, to grow is our commitment as a community bank," said Bank Newport President and CEO, Sandra J. Pattie.
"We take pride in each and every one of the Small Business Administration projects we help to finance, and Bank Newport is especially proud to be amongst the like-minded partners on this initiative, whose objectives are to support the growth and prosperity of small businesses, knowing the results will create jobs, build strong communities and benefit the economic foundation of our State."
"Working in partnership with Bank Newport and the U.S. Small Business Administration to provide financing for this type of project is consistent with our mission in making available long-term, low-interest, fixed-rate financing to encourage small business expansion and new job creation," said Henry "Bud" Violet, President, Ocean State Business Development Authority.
"QDC is excited to add a sports and recreation complex of this caliber to the Quonset Gateway," said QDC Managing Director, Steven King. "The company is the first to lease land under our new Site-Readiness program. To have a facility which will provide health and wellness opportunities for business park employees, young athletes and the local community is a win-win for everyone."
"The new Wide World of Indoor Sports facility offers a perfect example of how the streamlined permitting program that the Quonset Development Corporation initiated with DEM is spurring economic development in the Quonset Business Park," said Department of Environmental Management Director Janet Coit. "DEM is pleased to have helped expedite the permitting process so that these pad-ready sites are both protective of the environment and available for immediate development."
"QDC and the Department of Environmental Management did an excellent job in developing a streamlined permitting program and bringing stakeholders together that will make this complex a great place for job creation and community enhancement. The partnership between Bank Newport, SBA and OSBDA also played a critical role in supplying the investment capital needed to make this project a reality," said Keith Stokes, Executive Director, Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation.
Easily accessible from the highway, the complex will showcase top-of-the-line turf and a climate-controlled building. Programs will be offered for all ages, including adult and youth leagues as well as classes, camps and tournaments. Sports offered will include soccer, flag football, field hockey, lacrosse, softball, volleyball, wiffleball and more.
About Wide World of Indoor Sports Wide World of Indoor Sports (WWIS) provides a state of the art training facility for all ages and abilities. WWIS is the only facility in Rhode Island to offer non-boarded fields. The goal at Wide World of Indoor Sports is to provide athletes a place that they can grow to their full potential. http://wideworldofindoorsports.com/NKInfo.html