To compete with cities and states across our country, in an increasingly global economy, we need to put our assets on display. Providence and Rhode Island have faced challenges, but we are uniquely equipped to survive our immediate challenges and thrive for years to come. But for that to happen, we need to be able to tell our story to investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders and opinion makers.
Late last month, the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation - along with several cities and towns from across the state, including Providence - hosted a group of site selectors from across the United States. The business leaders represented the financial, technology, construction and trades and business sectors, and came to our city and our state looking for opportunity.
Their "Familiarity Tour" included a visit to Rhode Island's busy T.F. Green Airport, which is 10 minutes away by interstate, and includes most major air carriers, connecting to cities nationwide. While at the airport, the potential investors toured the InterLink commuter rail station which is serviced by Amtrak/Acela and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Agency. Many of our local companies access these rail services, which connect daily to the economic corridors in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
The site selectors also had an opportunity to tour northern Rhode Island and visit national offices of AMICA and Fidelity Investments. That was followed by a visit to Providence's emerging Knowledge District - the rebirth of Providence's renowned manufacturer industry that gave rise to the nation's Industrial Revolution. The former Jewelry District laps the busy downtown and bridges the city's "eds and meds" corridor - with its world class colleges and universities and hospitals and health care R&D. This district is making the transformation into advanced manufacturing, life science innovation and the creative economy while also attracting top researchers and scientists for collaboration and opportunity.
That event was kicked off at the Brown University ICERM (Institute for Computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics) and is only one of 8 of its nationally funded mathematics research institutes and the only one in New England. From there, they were given a tour of the 40-plus acres of land newly-opened up with the relocation of Interstate 195, and the development opportunities therein, in Providence's Knowledge District, and later visits at the RI Economic Development Corporation, where they were then day-long tours of our thriving Ports - the Port of Providence and the port at Quonset. ProvPort is the 2nd largest port in the northeast, with 41-foot berths and a turning radius of 100 feet. By many standards it is an enviable asset, and coupled with the Quonset facilities, can service short-sea shipping and vessels worldwide.
We hope the readership of New England Real Estate Journal will take pride in our Ocean State resources and take a second-look, when advocating to the many customers and business representatives you connect with daily. Providence and Rhode Island should be your next stop.
For more information visit www.providenceri.com/economic-development or www.riedc.com.
Angel Taveras is the mayor of Providence.