Rhode Island Coalition Strong at BIO Convention, Governor Carcieri Leads New England Forum on Biotechnology

Rhode Island was well represented at the 2007 BIO convention, held this week in Boston. For the first time in the convention’s 14-year-history, Rhode Island participated in the event, hosting an exhibit with 23 of the state's leading health and life sciences companies, research organizations, academic institutions and government agencies. [more]

State New Economy Index Author Discusses Rhode Island's Innovation Economy at STAC Meeting

Robert Atkinson, president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation and author of The 2007 State New Economy Index, discussed Rhode Island's ranking among the "Top Five Movers" at the April 25 meeting of the Rhode Island Science and Technology Advisory Council, held at the State House. [more]

R.I. First "Well State" in the Nation

The Wellness Councils of America (WELCOA) chose Rhode Island as the first Well State in the nation last month. The Ocean State is leading the nation in worksite wellness activities, with 20 percent of the state's workforce (more than 100,000 people) employed by organizations that have received a Well Workplace award from WELCOA. [more]

Carcieri Names Chair of URI Commission for Innovation

Justice Robert G. Flanders, a former Associate Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, was appointed Chair of the University of Rhode Island Commission for Innovation, a commission charged with making recommendations to state leadership on actions to enhance research activity at URI. Governor Donald L. Carcieri made the appointment at a meeting of the Rhode Island Science and Technology Advisory Council. [more]

R.I. Business Plan Competition Chooses 2 Winners

Campus Guardian Corp. and Providence Health Solutions were announced as the winners of the Rhode Island Business Plan Competition at Business Expo 2007 on May 1. Jamestown's Campus Guardian Corp. won the competition's entrepreneur track award for its software that turns cell phones into personal security devices. Providence Health Solutions, the student track winner, was recognized for its workplace wellness program. [more]

R.I. General Treasurer Supports RI-WINs

State General Treasurer Frank Caprio announced his support for the statewide rollout of the Rhode Island Wireless Innovation Networks (RI-WINs). A project of the Business Innovation Factory, RI-WINs is in the process of making Rhode Island the first state in the country with a border-to-border broadband wireless network. [more]

Innovator Spotlight: DIGI[cation]

DIGI[cation], a surprisingly simple and easy to use learning community, dismisses the constraints of a set class time and enables teachers and students to showcase work, discuss assignments, access information about their course and ask questions 24/7. [more]

Saul Kaplan: R.I. Becoming More Innovative

Responding to Rhode Island's ranking as one of the "Top Five Movers" in economic transformation in the 2007 State New Economy Index, a report compiled by the Kauffman Foundation and the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Saul Kaplan says that Rhode Island is starting to see the progress the state is making reflected in national rankings. [Read the Providence Journal Op-Ed]

Andy Cutler: Science Comes Alive at Robotics Rodeo

Andy Cutler, public relations consultant to the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, wrote about his experience at the Rhode Island FIRST Vex Challenge, a robotics competition for high school students across the state held at the New England Institute of Technology on March 31. [Read the Providence Journal Op-Ed]

EDC Recipient of Worksite Health Award

The Providence Chamber of Commerce has selected the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation as a winner of the Superior Worksite Health Award, an awards program of the chamber, co-sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island. The awards recognize stellar worksite health programs. The awards will be presented at the chamber's "Business Over Easy" breakfast on May 31 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Crossings in Warwick. [more]

Success Story: ABC Insurance

When Andres Almonte came to America, he had one goal in mind and that was achieving the American Dream. He knew education and a positive attitude was his path to success. Andres enrolled in school to learn English and chose insurance as a profession. In November of 1993, with little more than $1 in his pocket, he opened his own insurance agency - ABC Insurance. [more]

Item Group Transforms Manufacturing Plant Into New Headquarters

On April 26, Item Group held a grand opening at its new 80,000-square-foot product development facility in Providence. With Governor Donald L. Carcieri in attendance, Item Group showed off the transformation of a former manufacturing plant into an open space that houses three separate companies within Item Group - Item New Product Development, Ximedica and Innovation Chain Partners. [more]

TPI Reveals Army's New Lightweight, All-Composite Cab

Warren-based TPI Composites unveiled the army's first all-composite armor ready truck cab, which weighs hundreds of pounds less than cabs constructed with non-composite materials. The cab was designed for the U.S. Army's tactical wheeled vehicle fleet and addresses series vehicle issues by being lighter in weight, highly durable and strong enough to carry the heaviest of armor and mine blast protection. [more]

R.I. Airports Generate $2.1 B in Economic Activity

A study by the Rhode Island Airport Corporation concluded that Rhode Island's commercial and general aviation airports contribute up to $2.1 billion to the state's economy. Of that, nearly $2 billion is generated by T.F. Green Airport alone. The report is based on economic activity in 2005. [more]

Hispanic Businesses Honored at HACCRI Awards Banquet

The Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce Rhode Island awarded four individuals and businesses at the chamber's seventh annual meeting and banquet on May 1 for their commitment to the economic development of the state's Hispanic business community. The awardees are: Sovereign Bank, JM Painting and Plastering, Patricia Martinez, director of the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families, and Maria Diaz, CEO Dallas-based Pursuit of Excellence Inc. [more]

State Unveils Small Business Wellness Plan

Along with Governor Donald L. Carcieri, the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner announced new affordable health plans last month, which are designed to trade personal commitment to healthcare for a lower premium and deductible. Two plan designs, offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island and United Healthcare, are expected to be available to businesses with up to 50 employees by October 1. [more]

Storytelling Project Visits R.I.

StoryCorps, a national oral history and storytelling project affiliated with National Public Radio, is coming to Providence from June 7–30 to record the stories of Rhode Islanders. Their traveling recording studio, called MobileBooth, will be at Burnside Park collecting the community's stories and, ultimately, preserving those stories at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. [more]

Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport Establishes Center of Excellence in Undersea Technology at URI

The University of Rhode Island has been awarded a contract to create a first-of-its-kind Undersea Technology Center that will act as a coordinating agent to bring individual technical programs and R&D efforts together for testing and evaluation in Narragansett Bay. [more]

JWU to Establish Technology and Design Center

Johnson and Wales University will open the Alan Shawn Feinstein Technology and Design Center in late summer at the JWU School of Technology in downtown Providence. The center will help non-profit organizations obtain free design, graphics, technology and marketing services from JWU students, who will work in the center as part of the community service learning program. [more]

22nd Annual Rhode Island Tourism Unity Luncheon and Travel Exchange

• When: May 16, 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m.
• Where: Rhode Island Convention Center, 1 Sabin St., Providence.
• Contact: Jayne Panarello, 401-278-9152, jpanarello@riedc.com

Join Governor Donald L. Carcieri as the Rhode Island Tourism Division celebrates Rhode Island's natural and cultural resources.

PTAC Training Session

• When: May 17, 8:30–11 a.m.
• Where: Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, 315 Iron Horse Way, Suite 101, Providence.
• Contact: Louis Francis, 401-278-9151, lfrancis@riedc.com, http://riptac.ecenterdirect.com

This month's training session is a preparation for spring matchmaker. One-on-one counseling is available by appointment.

BIF LEARN: Jeneanne Rae and Designing a Better Customer Experience

• When: June 6, 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m.
• Where: Business Innovation Factory, 315 Iron Horse Way, Suite 101, Providence.
• Contact: Tori Drew, tori@businessinnovationfactory.com

Join Jeneanne Rae, president and co-founder of Peer Insight, for an exploration of service innovation. By investigating the role of design in business, participants will gain an understanding of this key component and the way it delivers value to the customer. Register now!

Helping Small Business Find Government Subcontracting and Contracting Opportunities

• When: June 10–12
• Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Crossings, Warwick.
• Contact: Register online at www.dodneregional.org

PTAC hosts the Department of Defense New England Council's much acclaimed Small Business "Matchmaker" networking system and the Rhode Island Chapter of the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) who will hold their 10th Biennial "Industry Day."

Guest speakers include Governor Donald Carcieri, Senator Jack Reed and Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere – NOAA. Join us for this small business opportunity that takes place in Rhode Island only once every five years.