The Defense Industry in Rhode Island: Economic Impact Report
“The Rhode Island Defense Industry: Economic Impact Report” is a follow-on to the “Impact
of the Defense Industry on Rhode Island: An Overview”, assembled by Ninigret Partners in
June 2003 on behalf of the Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance (SENEDIA).
The Rhode Island House Defense Economy Planning Commission was the funding source for
the SENEDIA led study that established a baseline of information as Rhode Island prepared to
address the Federal Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC) of 2005. The study helped
evaluate and define the value of the Defense Industry to the Rhode Island Economy, while
providing critical information that helped create the State’s strategy to protect Navy and
National Guard assets in Rhode Island. This effort led to successful BRAC results for the
State of Rhode Island and the US defense commands located in our state as they are projected
to expand with approximately 600 new jobs by the end of 2007.
The Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC), the Procurement Technical
Assistance Center (PTAC) and the Newport County Chamber of Commerce partnered and
hired Ninigret Partners to establish the latest Economic Impact Report for the Defense
Industry. The group felt that with the BRAC process behind us, the issue of benchmarking the
State’s defense economy is critical to understanding how we shape policy for its continued
success. The current report clearly demonstrates that the Rhode Island Defense Industry is
growing. This report allows the RIEDC and the PTAC to strategically direct resources to the
small businesses involved in this industry sector as part of their continued growth, as well as
helping establish sound policy for all businesses involved in and associated with the industry.
On behalf of the State of Rhode Island, we feel the “Rhode Island Defense Industry, Economic
Impact Report” identifies the value of the defense Industry to the State, its residents, and most
importantly, the people who are directly and indirectly employed and associated with the
industry.
 | DefInd_EconImpactReport_August2006.pdf | 1.73 MB |
Irena Nedeljkovic-Cunningham