East Providence's strategic location plays a strong role in supporting commercial and institutional uses that are reliant on both convenient access for consumers and for centralized operations that provide services to their customers in the most efficient manner possible. East Providence's access to the East Bay and Providence is particularly important, acting as a gateway to communities like Barrington, Bristol and Warren as well as being extremely convenient to Providence.
AAA of Southern New England, recognizing this convenience, has recently purchased a property in the city that will allow them to establish a new branch office that will also include employee training facilities and a centralized location for the many service vehicles AAA utilizes for servicing its customers. AAA is a not-for-profit member service organization; with 54 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA provides a variety of services to its members, including roadside assistance, travel services, insurance and lending services and other convenient services for travelers.
This new facility, located along the Wampanoag Trail near Mink Rd., will provide convenience to customers in East Providence, Providence, Bristol and Barrington. Home to the former Maylor Industrial Boiler Company, the 20,000 s/f building on the property will be extensively renovated into a modern, aesthetically pleasing building that will dramatically improve the look of this former industrial site. These former industrial locations are frequently challenging and it is always encouraging to see long unused industrial properties being re-used as important service centers for the public.
The new facility will be moving through the city's permitting process in the coming weeks and it would be expected that the new facility will be serving customers in the coming year. We are excited to welcome this expanded AAA facility to East Providence and would urge those who are considering a convenient and centralized location in the Providence metropolitan area to take a closer look at East Providence and what it has to offer.
Developers and other parties who are interested in learning more about the economic development activities occurring in East Providence are encouraged to visit the city's website at www.eastprovidence.com or the city's Waterfront District website at www.eastprovidencewaterfront.com.
James Moran is the economic planner for East Providence, R.I.