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WPRO News and the Associated Press
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – The University of Rhode Island says it has secured a $1 million pledge for construction of its proposed College of Engineering facilities if voters approve the ballot measure next week.
URI announced the pledge from Johnston-based FM Global on Wednesday. The firm is the state’s largest private company.
The donation is contingent on passage of Question 4 on Tuesday’s ballot, which asks voters to approve $125 million in bonds to finance the project.
URI says it has pledges of more than $8 million in private contributions for the project, including $2 million from Toray Plastics and $400,000 from the Taco White Family Foundation.
FM Global Chairman and CEO Shivan Subramaniam says investing in the engineering school will help create a skilled workforce for the so-called knowledge economy.