There have been a number of positive developments in Warwick lately, and I'm pleased to share some of the good news we have recently celebrated.

ADP, a payroll services and human resources management company, will be relocating to a 25,000 s/f leased space on Jefferson Blvd., consolidating their existing offices in East Providence and Coventry once the facility's build-out is complete. The real estate broker has said that the city's location in the center of Rhode Island and its convenient access to I-95 were among factors for choosing Warwick. The company's move, expected in September, will bring the three-story office building to 95 percent occupancy.

Another Rhode Island company, in anticipation of projected growth, is also moving its headquarters to Warwick. Quick Fitting, which makes fittings for plumbing, heating and irrigation equipment, will operate from a 100,000 s/f facility on Plan Way. Officials expect to add between 150 and 300 new jobs to their existing employee base as they continue to expand manufacturing.
Work is ongoing at Warwick Mall, which in the fall will welcome a Nordstrom's Rack - the first Rhode Island location - to a 37,360 s/f store in a new mall wing currently being constructed. Next month, Pinkberry will open its second Rhode Island location at the mall's center court. Also this spring, H&M, an international fashion retailer, will open in a 16,900 s/f space. The Warwick location joins 2,500 stores in 43 markets worldwide.

Elsewhere, a TD Bank branch is slated to open in Wilde's Corner, alongside a new Burger King; the original restaurant building was razed and a redesigned one built to better accommodate the bank's footprint on the property. Washington Trust, which has several branches in our community, is now operating a commercial component in Warwick, and Schneider Distribution Center has relocated to a facility on Jefferson Blvd., not far from the Warwick Station Development District.
Meanwhile, our Planning, Fire, Police, and Building departments, the Department of Tourism, Culture and Development (TCD), Licensing Division, Sewer Authority and other divisions involved in permitting and related issues are developing policies that will make it more convenient and efficient to do business here. We hope to have details of the "Making Business Easy" initiative finalized within the next few months.

TCD's website, www.movetowarwickri.com, continues to offer a free, searchable online database of commercial property available for lease or sale in Warwick.

For more information about Warwick in general, how the city can help your business grow, or if you're an existing Warwick business owner with questions, I invite you to call our Department of Tourism, Culture and Development at (401) 738-2000, ext. 6402 or email [email protected].

Scott Avedisian is the mayor of Warwick.