economic development

Political Roundtable: Saul Kaplan says RI Should Decide its Economic Focus

Ian Donnis — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:00:00 +0000

Saul Kaplan, founder and head of the Business Innovation Factory, and a former director of the state Economic Development Corporation, joins the panel to discuss struggles at the EDC, the outlook for gun-related legislation, municipal finance woes in Woonsocket and more.

Two More EDC Board Members Step Down

Flo Jonic — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:53:16 +0000

There’s more turmoil at the top of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation as two more board members have stepped down.

EDC board members Jack Templin and Cheryl Watkins Snead have tendered their resignations, leaving just seven members on a 13 member board. Templin is quitting halfway through a four year term to focus on his business interests. Watkins Snead is finishing up a three year term.

Remaining EDC board member Karl Wadensten says he’s sad to see them go but sees opportunity in the chance to appoint new members.

Another setback at EDC; Parsons asks out due to "serious health issue"

Ian Donnis — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 19:26:00 +0000

In the latest setback for the state Economic Development Corporation, Governor Lincoln Chafee's choice to lead the agency, William J. Parsons, has asked that his nomination we withdrawn due to a " recent serious health issue." Chafee has accepted the request by Parson, whose tenure with the EDC goes almost to the agency's inception.

Via news release:

Straight talk on jobs needed in RI

Scott MacKay — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 18:33:42 +0000

Another week passes with the usual palaver from the Rhode Island political and business elite on economic development. RIPR political analyst Scott MacKay says its time for some changes in the way Rhode Islanders view our state and ourselves.

TGIF: 10 things to know about RI politics + media

Ian Donnis — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 21:09:04 +0000

Welcome back to my Friday column. As always your tips and thoughts are weclome at idonnis (at) ripr (dot) org. Let's get to it.

TGIF: 12 things to know about RI politics + media

Ian Donnis — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:05:32 +0000

Welcome back to my Friday column. Your thoughts and emails are welcome at idonnis (at) ripr (dot) org. Let's get to it.

Chafee's new budget cuts corporate tax, avoids tax hikes

Ian Donnis — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

After trying unsuccessfully for the last two years to get the General Assembly to go along with a series of tax proposals, Governor Lincoln Chafee goes in a very different direction with his proposal for the budget year starting July 1. The budget eschews tax hikes and proposes cutting Rhode Island's corporate tax from 9 percent to 7 percent over three years.

Higher ed in RI will research policies to jump-start economy

Flo Jonic — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 17:18:15 +0000

(PROVIDENCE, RI) Ten Rhode Island colleges and universities are teaming up to help the state out of its economic doldrums.

Gov. Lincoln Chafee has announced the formation of the “Rhode Island Higher Education Research Collaborative.” Its mission: to provide nonpartisan data that will help state leaders develop sustainable economic policies.

Senate aims to improve RI's business-friendliness with new report

Ian Donnis — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 16:50:59 +0000

A report released Tuesday morning by the state Senate and the business-backed Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council uses a color-coded system to assess the state's performance on different economic indicators and recommends a series of steps for improvingits underperforming economy.

Fox calls the economy and same-sex marriage his top priorities for 2013

Ian Donnis — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 09:00:00 +0000

As part of a series of recent interviews with state officials, House Speaker Gordon Fox sat down with RIPR political reporter Ian Donnis this week to discuss jobs, same-sex marriage, and other issues facing the House of Representatives.