|
|
TOP STORIES
Job Count Reaches Record High Level in April
 The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training recorded a new high level of non-farm jobs in Rhode Island of 498,400. The number of jobs grew by 1,800 from March with gains throughout most industry sectors. [more]
Davol Breaks Ground on New Warwick Headquarters
Davol Inc., a leading developer and marketer of innovative, life-enhancing medical technologies, held a groundbreaking ceremony in May for its new divisional headquarters. The new facility will be the anchor for the Offices at the Crossing, the state's newest office park. [ more ]
|
|
 |
INNOVATION IN ACTION
Register Today for BIF-3, Early Registration Rate Ends June 30
 Held on October 10-11, the BIF-3 Summit will be hosted by Wall Street Journal columnist Walt Mossberg and "Mavericks at Work" author Bill Taylor.
Storytellers include Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, "Ghost Map" author and co-creator of outside.in Steven Johnson, 37signals founder and CEO Jason Fried, Studiocom chief creative officer Juan Fernando Santos, BzzAgent founder and CEO Dave Balter, author and Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen, "Made to Stick" author Dan Heath, founder of the gethuman project Paul English, Linear Air president and CEO William Herp, TopCoder founder and chairman Jack Hughes, founder of Zipcar and GoLoco Robin Chase and former head of knowledge management for the BBC Euan Semple, among others. [ Register or Learn More ]
Tour Recognizes R.I. Companies That Put Innovation First
 Governor Donald L. Carcieri and the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation are slated to visit more than a dozen companies this year as part of RIEDC's second annual Innovation Tour. As part of the tour, Governor Carcieri and RIEDC Executive Director Saul Kaplan will meet company leadership and employees and bring attention to the exciting innovations happening in the Ocean State. [more]
Innovator Spotlight: Tizra
Established in 2006, Providence-based Tizra is creating a new way to sell electronic content and giving publishers control. AgilePDF, Tizra's first product, is a flexible web application that gives publishers the ability to price, package, market and sell their content with the speed and agility that the web demands. [more]
RI-WINs Initiative Highlighted in The Providence Phoenix
 The positive press continues for Rhode Island's bid to become the first state with border-to-border broadband wireless coverage. The Providence Phoenix reported on the Rhode Island Wireless Innovation Networks project in the May 23 edition, providing an overview and featuring supporters of the initiative. [more]
|
|
|
EDC IN THE NEWS
R.I.'s New Export Collaboration Partner — The Bahamas
Wine, seafood, tourism, historic redevelopment and more were all on the agenda for the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation's latest trade mission to the Bahamas. For four days, several Rhode Island organizations including Newport Vineyards, Sea Fresh USA, Newport Collaborative, North East Engineers and the Newport Chamber of Commerce engaged in dialogue on a whole host of economic opportunities with the Bahamas.
R.I. Tourism Division Adopts Principles of “Geotourism”
 At the 22nd annual Tourism Unity luncheon on May 16, Governor Donald L. Carcieri signed a Geotourism Charter for Rhode Island, demonstrating the state's continued commitment to preservation, conservation and destination stewardship. Rhode Island is the sixth destination and second state to sign the charter, joining Honduras, Norway, Romania, Arizona and Guatemala. [more]
Industry Groups Unite to Boost Economic Growth
A recent article in the Providence Journal highlighted the benefits of RIEDC's new partnership with the Rhode Island Manufacturing Extension Service (RIMES). [more]
|
|
|
EVERY COMPANY COUNTS
Every Company Counts Launches Spanish Website
 At www.everycompanycounts.com/spanish_content.asp, Every Company Counts brings valuable information to the Spanish-speaking business community such as important upcoming events, articles written (not translated) in Spanish by Latino entrepreneurs and links to other Rhode Island resources that provide assistance in Spanish. [more]
|
|
|
COMMUNITY UPDATES
R.I. Scholarship Alliance Creates Corporate Scholarship Tax Credit Program
 The Rhode Island tuition tax credit law allows corporations to receive a substantial tax credit for making contributions that provide economically disadvantaged children with scholarships to attend the school of their choice. Corporations can receive up to a 90 percent tax credit amounting to $100,000 annually on contributions. [more]
Datacorp Granted Small Business Innovation Research Award
Social science research firm Datacorp has won a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant award from the National Institute of Drug Abuse of the National Institute of Health. Datacorp, a Providence and Wyoming-based firm, will use the funds to expand its information technology interests in the state through commercial software development. [more]
Tiffany and Co. to Open First Store in R.I.
 Famous jeweler Tiffany and Co. announced plans last month to open a 5,100-square-foot store in the Providence Place Mall this November. Tiffany and Co. already operates a manufacturing facility in Cumberland and is now focusing on building its customer base in New England. [more]
Providence Equity Acquires USIS for $1.5B
Providence Equity Partners, a leading private investment firm, has acquired USIS, a Virginia-based provider of pre-employment and screening services to corporate and government clients for approximately $1.5 billion. [more]
Strong Growth in Aquaculture
 As the Ocean State, aquaculture has always been an important industry. But now, a report produced by the Rhode Island Coastal Management Council shows that revenue has increased dramatically in the sector, exceeding the million-dollar mark for the first time in 2006. [more]
|
|
|
HIGHER EDUCATION
Johnson and Wales Announces New City — Exchange City
Johnson and Wales University has opened an “Exchange City” in the university's Paramount Building. An interactive educational project for middle and high school students, Exchange City features a bank, city hall, radio stations, stores and more. Students from the Urban Collaborative Accelerated Program (UCAP) take on roles as politicians, bankers, newspaper owners and other business leaders. [more]
URI's Biotech Program Flourishes
The University of Rhode Island announced that it will expand its biotechnology laboratory and partner with New York-based Sartorius Biotech Inc. after the biotech instrument manufacturer donated $150,000 in laboratory equipment. Entering its fourth year, URI's biotech program is designed to prepare students for careers in that industry. [more]
|
|
|
SAVE THE DATE
How to Bring Sustainable Practices to Your Community
- When: June 8, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
- Where: Johnson and Wales Inn, 213 Taunton Ave., Seekonk, MA
- Contact: Designed for Life, 401-724-7700 ext. 6, designed4life07@aol.com
This workshop will introduce participants to an approach that can effectively bring about systemic, across-the-board change toward sustainable planning and practices within their communities.
DoD Spring Matchmaker, NCMA Industry Day
New England small businesses will be meeting with more than 50 government agencies and prime contractors during Monday's Spring Matchmaker. The event continues with the National Contract Management Association's Industry Day on June 12 and with the Department of Defense's New England Regional Council on June 13.
PTAC Training Session
This month's training session is an introduction to contract management. One-on-one counseling is available by appointment.
|
|
|
© 2007 RIEDC 315 Iron Horse Way. Suite 101. Providence, RI 02908
|
|
INNOVATION IN ACTION