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1/27/2025
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Legislative leaders help kick off REGENT's seaglider facility in Quonset
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STATE HOUSE — Legislative leaders, along with other federal, state and local officials joined the Quonset Development Corporation today for a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of construction at REGENT Craft Inc.’s new seaglider manufacturing facility.
REGENT, headquartered at Quonset Business Park, will lease an additional 255,000-square-foot facility in the Park for 25 years. The company’s expansion is expected to create 300 new jobs, with the potential of up to 750, over the next 10 years.
“REGENT is a true Rhode Island success story, and this expansion is a testament to the collaboration between government and business that can only happen here,” said Speaker of the House K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick). “The Ocean State is becoming the Innovation State: from Quonset and the Port of Davisville in North Kingstown to bioscience incubation in Providence, cutting-edge companies are choosing to grow in Rhode Island. I am thrilled to celebrate REGENT’s expansion and commitment to remain here in Rhode Island for years to come.”
“Quonset is a cornerstone of Rhode Island’s economic present and future,” said Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence). “The arrival of REGENT’s seaglider manufacturing facility represents the incredible potential of the blue economy, and it also demonstrates what we can achieve by rallying many stakeholders behind our efforts to foster innovation and attract businesses to our state. I want to thank Steve King and the Quonset Development Corporation for their outstanding work, REGENT for choosing Rhode Island as its home, Rhode Island Commerce for facilitating this project, and the many partners who have joined us in supporting critical investments in Quonset and the Port of Davisville.”
Sen. Robert Britto (D-Dist. 18, East Providence, Pawtucket) offered remarks on behalf of the State Senate. Also in attendance were Sen. Mark McKenney (D-Dist. 30, Warwick) and Rep. Robert D. Phillips (D-Dist. 51, Woonsocket, Cumberland).
The manufacturing facility will produce 12-passenger seagliders, serving global customer orders worth over $9 billion, and is expected to open in mid-2026.
To support REGENT’s operational expansion, Rhode Island has invested $1 million under the First Wave Closing Fund Act and has further committed to investing $3M under the Rebuild Rhode Island Tax Credit Act and up to $13 million under the Qualified Jobs Program, all administered by the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation.
REGENT is pioneering the future of sustainable maritime mobility through the development and manufacturing of all-electric seagliders, new vessels that drastically reduce the time and cost of coastal transportation. REGENT’s flagship seaglider, Viceroy, is a 12-passenger vehicle that travels at 180mph to service routes up to 180 miles on a single charge.
REGENT has secured more than 600 seaglider orders valued at more than $9 billion from leading airline and ferry operators around the world and has raised more than $90 million from investors including 8090 Industries, Founders Fund, Japan Airlines and Lockheed Martin.
For more information, contact: Daniel Trafford, Publicist State House Room 20 Providence, RI 02903 (401)222-1922
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