Rich diversity, exciting social and cultural vibrancy, historic architecture, world-class colleges and universities, outstanding hospitals and research facilities, solid job development and training, proximity to multi-modal transportation, ease of collaboration, and more. These are the things winning Providence national awards and international headlines.
As mayor of the second-largest and fastest-growing city in New England, I'm proud to invite you to see why locating in Providence, the Creative Capital, makes great business sense.
In the past five years, Providence has enjoyed unprecedented growth and three "A" bond ratings. In a recent national study, we ranked 32nd for top metros with 25- to 34-year olders with a college education. We have 1.7 million people within a 25-mile radius.
More than $3 billion in new development - restaurants, boutique shops, bio-tech and manufacturing - has taken place in our 25 neighborhoods. Our prized Providence Place Mall has experienced extraordinary growth - making it one of the most successful indoor retail sites of its kind, and our neighborhood and downcity retail corridors are growing each day.
We are a mid-sized city known for our public safety and personal service; and whether you are a micro-enterprise or a Fortune 500 company - we're committed to helping you grow.
Through the Providence Economic Development Partnership (PEDP,) we offer many tools to build your business: financial and technical support, Enterprise Zone aid, micro-loans and revolving loans, storefront improvement loans, Neighborhood Markets grants, business (re)location assistance and more.
Our partnership with netWorkRI, the Providence Skills Center and First Source assures you the job training your employees need to get the job done. And our alliance with the Rhode Island Economic Development Corp., Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, Providence / Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau enables you to connect with everyone you need to network successfully and build your venture.
Some of our most recent successes include:
- providing dozens of potential businesses with marketing and site location information, broker referral, workforce training, financial assistance and follow up
- $1.34 million in PEDP loans, leveraging $13.6 million in project development
- a business outreach survey
- a hospitality pilot partnership, providing students jobs
- customer service and tourism / hospitality training
- an annual Mayor's Small Business Resource Forum
- a growing database about Providence enterprises
- promotion of the HUB Zone
- and more than $¼ million in direct grants to neighborhood based businesses
Let us show you what we can do to grow your bottom line.
For more information visit www.providenceri.com or call Providence Economic Development Partnership acting president Thomas Deller, at (401) 351-4300 x609.
David Cicilline is the mayor of Providence.