Two-level hydroponic greenhouse to be constructed in Newport, Rhode Island

The lettuce and leafy greens greenhouse is on track to be operational by November 2018.


NEWPORT, RI — The project to construct a two-level hydroponic greenhouse on city-owned land in the north end that is expected to produce 3 million heads of lettuce and more than 750,000 pounds of fresh leafy greens annually is on track to be operational by November 2018, according to the city’s partner in the project.

“It’s progressing really well,” said Matthew Kennedy, managing director of Converge.

“We have to financially close on the project — it’s more than a $25 million investment,” he said. “We’ve been working together with the state and city to put together a financing package.”

The city entered a partnership in 2015 with a consortium of five companies by providing $500,000 in seed money to plan for and help finance a series of economic development projects. The consortium is doing business as the Newport Development Co.

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