Mayor Scott Avedisian and governor Lincoln Chafee joined Mike Balise, an owner of Balise Auto Group, to say that the company's $8 million expansion of its 1400 Post Rd. facility will break ground in July.
The project will create another 45 permanent high-quality jobs to its workforce of nearly 300 Balise associates already in Rhode Island. The project will employ roughly 200 construction workers for each phase.
"Balise has long been a major economic driver in my hometown of Warwick. I am pleased to join mayor Avedisian in celebrating this job-generating expansion and I applaud the Balise Auto Group for their commitment to Warwick and to Rhode Island," Chafee said.
"Balise Auto Group has been a wonderful part of our business community and our city as a whole," Avedisian said. "We are obviously excited about this project for the jobs it will create and because it's such a positive development for a family-owned business that has a demonstrated commitment to the communities in which they do business. We congratulate the Balise family and their employees on this project and wish them continued success."
The project will be completed in two phases. A new Nissan facility is slated for construction beginning in July and is estimated to take nine months to complete. Construction of a new Chevrolet facility will begin upon completion of the Nissan building.
"We are excited about making all of our dealerships at our Post Road campus world class facilities that our associates and customers deserve," said Balise.
"Both buildings will be set back and in line with the existing Balise Toyota dealership, allowing for similar landscape, vehicle display and customer convenience," Balise said.
Shown (from left) are: Councilman Steven Colantuono, councilman Joseph Solomon, mayor Scott Avedisian, Mike Balise, governor Lincoln Chafee, council president Bruce Place, councilwoman Camille Vella-Wilkinson and councilman Raymond Gallucci