PROVIDENCE: The corporation that runs Providence’s deep-water port is working with state lawmakers to get a $20 million bond initiative on the November ballot to finance the port’s expansion.
ProvPort spokesman Bill Fischer tells WPRI-TV (http://bit.ly/1RJEEhx) that the port operator wants to tap into new markets that could emerge following the expansion of the Panama Canal. Senate Majority Leader Dominick Ruggerio, a North Providence Democrat, introduced a bill Friday that would put the bond question to voters in November. The money would be used to acquire land and build a new marine terminal.
The Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing Wednesday. There’s already another port-related bond question proposed for November. Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo wants to borrow $70 million to rebuild piers at Quonset Point in North Kingstown.
