08/04/2003

AROUND THE STATE

$8 million in housing grants for First Congressional District:
The CFP provides money to public housing agencies for modernization, development, and management improvements.

The communities and the amounts of each award are Bristol Housing Authority, $227,922; Burrillville Housing Authority, $77,431; Central Falls Housing Authority, $352,715; Cumberland Housing Authority, $178,379; East Providence Housing Authority, $540,909; Jamestown Housing Authority, $39,137; Lincoln Housing Authority, $288,596; North Providence Housing Authority, $160,861; Pawtucket Housing Authority, $1,434,890; Portsmouth Housing Authority, $43,878; Smithfield Housing Authority; $47,628; The Housing Authority of the City of Newport, $1,991,710; Tiverton Housing Authority, $62,664; Warren Housing Authority, $156,134; Woonsocket Housing Authority, $2,340,311.

AT BRYANT COLLEGE

Information please:
The next session in the summer training sessions to help businesses design a new Web site will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., in The Verizon-Bryant College Telecommunications Center, 1150 Douglas Pike, Smithfield.

Remaining session include "Customizing Your Web Site Appearance With Web Graphics," Wednesday and Aug. 13. and "Communicating With Customers Through Your Web Site," Aug. 20.

The series is $800 per person, but educational grants are available from the Workforce Partnership of Greater Rhode Island or the Providence/Cranston Workforce Development. For more information, call 232-0222.

Athletic address:
The Expo at Bryant College, 1150 Douglas Ave., Smithfield, will feature a keynote address by Steve Grogan, former New England Patriots quarterback. At 5 p.m., Grogan will speak about his transition from professional athlete to local businessman.

The Expo will be held Oct. 22 from 1 to 8 p.m., with Business After Hours being held from 6 to 8 p.m. Free admission with a business card. For more information, visit www.executivesuccessclub.com and www.nrichamber.com and look for the Small Business EXPO link.

International trade:
The Rhode Island Export Assistance Center (RIEAC) at Bryant College, 1150 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, will be offering an International Trade certificate program beginning next month.

Participants will gain comprehensive hands-on training designed to provide them with the tools they need to compete in the global market.

The program will meet on Bryant's campus for eight consecutive Wednesdays, from 8 to 10 a.m., beginning Sept. 24. Sessions will feature leading practitioners in international trade, video-streamed curriculum, lectures and quizzes.

Participants who complete all sessions receive a certificate of completion; sessions can be taken individually. The program's fee is $75 per session or $500 for the series. Eligible companies can receive 50 percent off the program fee through a grant offered by the Human Resource Investment Council of Rhode Island. For more information or to register, call Dee deHaas, at 232-6405.

PEOPLE

Three Northwest residents are among the newest members of the Ocean State Children's Choir. Successfully auditioning for membership were Emily Gonsalves,
of Harrisville, and Chelsea Dolan-Perry,
of Johnston.

Auditions continue through next month for young singer musicians, ages 8 and older, boys and girls. The current membership of 60 includes children from 25 private, parochial, home and public school districts. To book an audition or for audition information, call 556-3883.