[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 102 (Friday, July 11, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1457]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CONGRATULATING THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, RI

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                        HON. PATRICK J. KENNEDY

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 10, 2003

  Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
congratulate the city of Pawtucket, RI, for being selected by the U.S. 
Conference of Mayors as one of 28 best small business practice cities 
in the country. This honor acknowledges the outstanding work that the 
residents and city officials of Pawtucket have done in recent years to 
create a booming business characterized by the making, showing, and 
selling of artwork.
  The business of Pawtucket can be traced back to the father of the 
Industrial Revolution, Samuel Slater, when he founded America's cotton 
industry on the Blackstone River in 1783. Since that time an abundance 
of artists have made Pawtucket their home and place of work.
  Since 1999, a strong resurgence in the Pawtucket art scene can be 
detected in the 122 artists that now occupy eight mill properties and 
over 117,000 square feet of vacant space. This is not to mention the 
five mill properties that have been purchased for commercial and live-
work lofts in the past few years.
  In just over 4 years Pawtucket has gained local and national 
recognition for its newly thriving art scene. In addition Pawtucket 
boasts 307 acres for its arts and entertainment district, the largest 
such district in the state.
  The artisan attraction to Pawtucket can be summarized quite simply by 
ease and convenience.
  The honor bestowed upon the city of Pawtucket may act as 
encouragement for other mayors from across the country to contact the 
city's mayor, James E. Doyle, to learn more about what it takes to 
foster a developing artistic community. Pawtucket will serve as a 
guideline for burgeoning art centers to follow.
  Mr. Speaker, Pawtucket, RI, is a city rich in history, business, and 
art. 2003 marks the first time that the city has received any national 
recognition for this characteristic, and in particular the progress 
made in recent years.
  It is a great honor for me to represent this fine city and I look 
forward to witnessing its continued growth and success.

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