28 R.I. towns, cities say ‘Yes on 2’ to benefit URI, RIC

University offers thanks to Rhode Islanders for their support of Narragansett Bay upgrades

Caption: Aerial view of URI’s Narragansett Bay Campus, home to the Graduate School of Oceanography. (URI photo)
Caption: Aerial view of URI’s Narragansett Bay Campus, home to the Graduate School of Oceanography. (URI photo)

KINGSTON, R.I. — Nov. 7, 2018 — The University of Rhode Island community is extending a hearty “thank you” this morning to the more than 200,000 voters who said “yes” on Question 2, which means the University can proceed with upgrades to its Narragansett Bay Campus.

Twenty-eight towns and cities and 59.4 percent of all those who cast ballots on Question 2 voted in favor. The bond issue will provide $70 million to the University and Rhode Island College.

“Once again, the voters of Rhode Island have demonstrated their faith in the vision and direction of the University by approving Question 2, which provides $45 million for critical improvements to our Narragansett Bay Campus,” URI President David M. Dooley said. “Such support will help prepare the campus for a new $125 million research vessel awarded to the University by the National Science Foundation, one of only three such ships in the country.

“We are deeply grateful to the voters of Rhode Island and offer our heartfelt gratitude to all who decided to help us continue to build upon the University’s reputation as a global leader in teaching and research,” Dooley said. “We look forward to seeing you when we celebrate the arrival of the new ship, the completion of these major Bay Campus upgrades and the important international role URI will continue to play for decades in ensuring the health of our oceans and coastlines.”

RIC will receive $25 million to enhance teacher education with facility and technology upgrades to Horace Mann Hall, which is home to its Feinstein School of Education and Human Development.

In Central Falls, 80.1 percent of ballots cast supported Question 2, while Providence, with its 28,046 favorable votes, pushed the bond issue into the win column with 76.4 percent. New Shoreham voted in favor by 74.8 percent.

In addition to those three communities, Question 2 earned more than 60 percent of the votes cast in Barrington, East Greenwich, East Providence, Jamestown, Middletown, Narragansett, Newport, North Kingstown, North Providence, Pawtucket and South Kingstown.