One hundred twenty-five million thanks!

To the overwhelming majority of voters who said yes on 4, the University of Rhode Island says thank you! We are so grateful to the 63.4 percent of Rhode Islanders in 38 cities and towns who approved the $125 million bond for a new College of Engineering.

You have made it possible for us to build a state-of-the-art facility that will transform buildings, classrooms, and laboratories that have not been changed in 50 years. Engineering is a field that generates significant revenue and jobs for the state of Rhode Island – today, the College of Engineering produces $142 million in economic activity for the state. That number will increase thanks to your support.

Throughout the bond campaign, we were gratified to receive the endorsement of major newspapers, chambers of commerce, and professional organizations, as well as Rhode Island’s top engineering businesses, which rely heavily on graduates of URI’s engineering programs to fill highly skilled positions. In fact, more than 4,000 URI engineering graduates work for 750 Rhode Island companies. We are proud of our partnerships with the state’s corporate community, and we are confident that the new engineering complex will only strengthen these important collaborations.

You have given your flagship research institution a tremendous gift in approving this bond. And we do not take your trust in us lightly. We pledge to do our part in revitalizing Rhode Island’s economy. And while it is true that the new College of Engineering will sit on our Kingston campus, it belongs to all of Rhode Island.

Thank you for believing in the power of thinking big. Together we will celebrate a brighter future for Rhode Island as we enter a new era in engineering at URI.