A Major Headquarters Is Moving Back Downtown

Rain clouds are settling low over the river this morning, but downtown just received some of its biggest economic news in years. Grab your umbrella before heading out — there is plenty brewing across the neighborhood before the evening puddles form.

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The Lead

Nearly two centuries after its 1835 founding in the city, commercial property insurer FM is heading back downtown. The global insurance giant confirmed Wednesday that it plans to vacate its suburban campus in Johnston and relocate corporate headquarters to 10 Memorial Boulevard. FM purchased the prominent 10-story office tower earlier this year for $68.5 million.

The homecoming marks a significant boost for the downtown business district, promising to bring hundreds of daily corporate professionals back to neighborhood sidewalks, lunch counters, and transit stops following years of commercial office vacancies. While the insurer has not announced a firm closing date for the Johnston complex, interior fit-outs along Memorial Boulevard are scheduled to wrap up in late 2027. Preliminary architectural plans and department permits now head to municipal review desks for the property overhaul.

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Local Pulse

• District Hosts Annual School Choice Fair Schools Families can explore academic programs and specialized high school pathways at Saturday's district-wide information fair.

• Local Artisan Village Opens at Mall Business Fifty Rhode Island makers launch a cooperative holiday storefront Friday inside Providence Place to showcase handcrafted gifts.

• Curbside Trash Pickup Shifts One Day Community East Providence collection routes run twenty-four hours behind schedule through Saturday following the midweek Veterans Day holiday.

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Today's Outlook

• High 56°F · Low 42°F — Rain (74% chance of precipitation)
  • Keep your umbrella close today as steady rain settles in across the afternoon.

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What's On Around Town

Today

• Reading & Rhyming Together Providence Public Library (150 Empire St), 11:00 AM · Free Rhymes, songs, and storytime fun designed for toddlers and caregivers.

• State of the Arts Celebration Rhode Island School of Design (20 Washington Pl), 6:00–8:00 PM · $40 Honoring local artists and thirty years of Gallery Night Providence.

• Bears vs. Canisius Men's Basketball Pizzitola Sports Center, 7:00 PM · Paid Early-season college basketball action on the home court.

• Dark Star Orchestra Providence Performing Arts Center (220 Weybosset St), 7:30 PM · Paid Classic Grateful Dead concert recreations played note for note.

Tomorrow

• The Affair for Air Gala Graduate Providence (11 Dorrance St), 5:30–10:30 PM · Paid
• Bert Kreischer: Permission to Party The VETS (1 Avenue of the Arts), 7:00 PM · Paid

Saturday

• Providence Fall Home Show Rhode Island Convention Center (1 Sabin St), 10:00 AM · Paid
• Providence Vintage Fest Rhode Island School of Design (20 Washington Pl), 11:00 AM–5:00 PM · Free
• Andrea Gibson’s Love Letter From the Afterlife The VETS (1 Avenue of the Arts), 7:30 PM · Paid

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Spotlight & Story

• Thayer Street
  • Laid out in 1799 as Cross Street, College Hill’s busiest strip was renamed in 1823 for Dr. Williams Thayer, a physician and great-great-grandson of Roger Williams. Before the falafel counters and neon marquees arrived, it was mostly cow pastures and orchards.

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Providence Daily Digest — compiled from local sources every morning. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.

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