City Grill

Headshot courtesy Gilbane Building Co.

Mike Busam 
Rhode Island Business Leader
Gilbane Building Co.

More than $1.5 billion in projects bidding to specialty trade contractors through the 2025 third quarter are keeping firms busy, says Busam. “The K-12 sector currently dominates the construction pipeline in Rhode Island,” he adds, noting that the state’s subcontractor capacity is also “tight” due to this “unprecedented” K-12 growth accelerated by a state bond initiative.

Busam says Gilbane is “committed to working closely with Rhode Island unions to ensure workforce availability to meet project demands.” He adds that  the company “will continue to be strong partners and advocates for organizations such as SupplyRI and Building Futures.” These partnerships are “crucial in our efforts to strengthen and expand our subcontractor base, providing the necessary support and resources to local firms,” Busam contends.

Interest rate cuts should spur private developer projects, he says, adding that manufacturing and life sciences sectors have “the most growth potential” due to efforts such as the RI Life Science Hub, which could create “significant opportunities for future development.”