Quonset’s economic momentum is built for the long-term - by Steven J. King

At the Quonset Business Park, our commitment to strategic planning continues to deliver results for Rhode Island families, and the region. What was once a major U.S. Navy base has, over the last two decades, become a driving force for economic growth.

A newly released independent report prepared by Bryant University confirms what many businesses already know: Quonset is the most powerful economic engine in Rhode Island and a strategic asset for the entire region.

Today, activity at Quonset generates $7 billion in annual economic output, supports nearly 30,000 jobs statewide and accounts for 8.4% of Rhode Island’s GDP. Put simply, nearly $1 out of every $12 generated in the state’s economy is tied to Quonset.

What makes these numbers meaningful is not just their scale, but what they represent. Quonset directly supports more than 15,300 on-site jobs across over 260 companies, with strong multiplier effects that reach suppliers, service providers and communities well beyond our borders. In total, the business park supports roughly one in every 17 jobs statewide.

Manufacturing remains at the core of that success. One in four manufacturing jobs in Rhode Island are right here at the Business Park. Advanced manufacturing and defense technology are reshaping our local economy, and Quonset offers the infrastructure these industries need. Recent projects by companies like REGENT Craft, Edesia Nutrition and Anduril Industries are adding new facilities, new capacity and hundreds of high-quality jobs, underscoring that momentum.

These jobs matter. The average wage at Quonset is approximately $78,000  —  about 20% higher than the statewide average. In total, the business park generates $2.2 billion in annual household income for Rhode Island families.

Quonset also delivers a strong return on the taxpayers’ investment. In 2025 alone, activity at the business park generated $191.5 million in state and local tax revenue, including $14 million in property taxes and PILOT payments that directly support essential services in our hometown of North Kingstown.

Since 2005, more than $2.5 billion in private investment has flowed into the business park, nearly $900 million of that in just the past five years.

None of this happened by accident. Our success reflects a strategic vision, strong public-private partnerships, support from the community and at every level of government.

Quonset stands as a clear example of how thoughtful investment can deliver sustained economic benefits for everyone. Its story is still being written, but the data makes one thing clear: Quonset’s role in shaping Rhode Island’s economic future is both significant and enduring.

Read the full Quonset Business Park 2025 Economic Impact report here: https://quonset.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/QBP-Report-2026-Full-Document-01222026-FINALreduced.pdf

Steven J. King, P.E. is the managing director of the Quonset Development Corp., North Kingstown, R.I.