Raimondo joins Helena Foulkes on Costco board. Will the chain come to RI?

Rhode Island may not have a Costco , but the wholesale chain will soon have two notable Rhode Islanders on its board.

Former Gov. Gina Raimondo has been nominated for a seat on Costco's board of directors, the retailer announced on Dec. 4 . Current gubernatorial candidate Helena Foulkes has served on the board since 2023.

"We are very pleased to nominate Secretary Raimondo for election to our Board. Her vast experience in global business, politics and international security at the highest level will add an important dimension to our current expertise," Hamilton James, the chair of Costco's board, said in a statement. "We look forward to her contributions."

Raimondo served as secretary of commerce under the Biden administration and has since returned to private life. She is currently a distinguished fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Will Costco ever open a RI location?

It remains to be seen if the move will help boost Rhode Island's chances of luring a Costco. Residents have clamored to bring in the discounted warehouse-style chain for years, but without success.

More: Where's the closest Costco to RI? Depends on where you live.

Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins announced in 2023 that Costco would be replacing a former medium-security prison south of Garden City, but the developer pulled the plans .

Another proposal to bring Costco to the Mulligan's Island complex was withdrawn amid pushback from neighbors in 2020.

The nearest Costco stores are in Sharon, Massachusetts, and East Lyme, Connecticut.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Gina Raimondo will join another RIer on Costco's board of directors