RI Biz Winners and Flops
Saturday, July 07, 2012
Winners:
RIsurgence - The reinvention of RI is now moving forward with the launch of RIsurgence. The RIsurgence effort represents a completely different approach to developing innovative ideas to improve Rhode Island’s economy. “RIsurgence is about democratizing the economic development process, and innovating unique and innovative ways to improve our economy. It is all about communication and collaboration. We need Rhode Island solutions, not canned solutions that have worked in other states,” said Marcel Valois, one of the co-founders.
The effort now has over 130 members and any one can register and participate. “We are now commencing a process where the RIsurgence participants vote on these various ideas. The winning idea(s) will ultimately move into a business-planning phase for ultimate execution, said Valois.
John Picerne - Founder and CEO of Rhode Island-based Picerne Military Housing, a leader nationally in building and managing U.S. military Housing, was a finalist in the highly prestigious Ernst & Young 2012 Entrepreneur Of The Year New England Program. Also a finalists from RI – Alex & Ani’s Carolyn Rafaelian and G-Form’s Daniel Wyner
The awards are given annually to entrepreneurs “whose ingenuity and perseverance have created and sustained successful, growing business ventures.” Picerne, Rafaelian and Wyner were among 32 finalists selected from a pool of more than 1,700 submissions by entrepreneurs across the country.
Junior Achievement of Rhode Island – The nonprofit that helps with workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy, received a grant from Webster Bank. The program continues to grow.
Governor Chafee – In the midst of a crisis at EDC, the Governor has had a hands on approach to developing new business. This may be the future for RI’s economic development model.
Providence Geeks – Providence-based startup Sproutel makes interactive toys for children with chronic illnesses, starting with diabetes, asthma and obesity. Their first product - Jerry the Bear - takes a high-tech, playful approach to teaching kids how to properly manage their health.
At the July Geek Dinner this Wednesday, Co-Founders and new minted graduates of Northwestern University, CEO Aaron Horowitz and CCO Hannah Chung (recently named one of Inc. Magazine’s “15 Women to Watch in Tech”) unveil the story of Sproutel. They will introduce Jerry the Bear, and how they plan to help millions of kids. The event kicks off at 5:30 p and runs until 8 p at AS220.
Flops
Jobs - The jobs situation continues to be mission critical, but the game plan for reversing the situation continues to be lacking. Elected officials continue to be bogged down on other issues. Speaker Gordon Fox recently appeared on WPRI-TV and was trying to explain his role 38 Studios, but never addressed the issues of job creation.
With the national job picture continuing to look stagnant, the need for leadership in RI is ever more critical. Rhode Island is ranked 49th for employment.
Sadly, there does not seem to be a game plan by the City of Providence after more than 18 months in office.
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Comments:
John McGrath
11:23pm on Friday, July 06, 2012
Perhaps the old Fleet Building could be made into "Superman's Aquarium" with the usual fish and an interactive system of educating on ocean ecology. And a seafood restaurant. This tourist would be operated as a profit making theme park with merchandizing, souvenir vending, entertainment, etc. aspects. Pretty appropriate for the Ocean State. I tried to come up with something related to Roosters but failed to do so.
John McGrath
2:50am on Saturday, July 07, 2012
I just thought of a name for the Aquarium Theme Park I proposed above: "At Sea In the City." It has a certain resonance.
To attract big spending Asians, "At Sea in The City" would have the biggest vertical koi pond that you pass through as you enter. Big big luck! There would also be a video game of Superman (this being his building) against Godzilla. Perhaps Studio 38 could be revised, with state funding, to develop and market this game.
marcel valois
5:02am on Saturday, July 07, 2012
Brian, we have made modifications to RIsurgence.com landing page to explain the effort better and to allow folks to see the discussions without registering. We continue to learn more about this "open" process as we go along and we appreciate your comments and suggestions.
Rufus Mikatis
7:03am on Saturday, July 07, 2012
Use some of the state owned land formerly intended for the Big River reservoir and/or Arcadia to create a Burlingame style campground. With just a couple of hundred dry camping sites, meaning no electricty just a site and nearby wells for water, RI would easily generate millions in year. Anyone who visits Burlingame, myself included, sees that 80% of the vehicles are from CT, MA or NY. These represent revenue for camping, local restaurants, stores, etc.. But without some level of creativity and desire to do something positive about tourism the land will remain a wasteland. BTW: Campers are very supportive of the environment, they respect the land and in my experience would never disturb the wildlife, but just enjoy walking/biking in the woods. Bottom line: for a nominal investment to clear the land and create usable camping sites, drill a couple of wells and install one dump station for waste water RI would easily generate millions each year. But alas this is RI after all, no creativity and no real desire to effect a positive change. Too bad for all of us.
David Beagle
7:49am on Saturday, July 07, 2012
Not for nothing, but if a local bank collecting peanut butter is considered to be a business winner, we are hurtin, for certain.
Brian Bishop
8:09am on Saturday, July 07, 2012
I don't know about peanut butter collection. maybe get's credit for being a little off beat and plenty of protein and the like.
but I'm unimpressed with RIsurgence as every bit of content is behind a registration wall. Can't believe they don't understand there has to be some About info and content to draw folks into the website and to disseminate ideas.
So I've got to go for this as a miss right now.
Lance Chappell
8:48am on Saturday, July 07, 2012
In comparing Boston to Providence, Providence is a ghost town. Who are they kidding? Officials should be asking the neighboring states just what are they doing that is so correct or ask them what we are doing that is so terribly wrong. One thing is for certain, the damn taxes in this state are way too high and need to come down if this state is ever to get out of this depression. There is business activity all around the borders but not IN this state.
John McGrath
10:57am on Saturday, July 07, 2012
As for lowering taxes, a good idea EXCEPT the legislature chose to not fund the pension for many years and now can't figure out how to have pensions and public services along with lower taxes.
And the state has concentrated on doing the Massachusetts thing by trying to lure financial services (remember American Express, but Fidelity is still here, is it not?), and biotech firms, and software firms (it was very lax in going after an expanded Meditech, which settled in nearby Massachusetts). That "Massachusetts-me-too" thing seems played out, except over the long term, with Brown leading the way to the development of the Knowledge District and the future firms that might be spun off from Brown's research.
elaresperssamel John
11:06am on Saturday, July 07, 2012
Mère de la Mariée 2012 , mère de la mariée Robes vente, Mère de la Mariée Designer , Mère de la Mariée en ligne
Gary Arnold
11:42pm on Saturday, July 07, 2012
We have been trying to get this state engaged in business that will generate jobs, start a global incubation center of excellence and save energy at the same time without spending billions as wind farms demand.
But it does take a great deal of thinking to make these plans into real opportunity, something that there seems to be little of in RI.
David Conroy
1:55am on Sunday, July 08, 2012
We should all write checks out to the DNC for 25k then we'll get military contracts and everyone will tell us how great we are.
Brian Bishop
3:00am on Sunday, July 08, 2012
>Brian, we have made modifications to RIsurgence.com landing page to >explain the effort better and to allow folks to see the discussions >without registering. We continue to learn more about this "open" >process as we go along and we appreciate your comments and suggestions.
Thanks for the note. While some content is available, I don't see the "questions" which people are responding to, I only see the responses.
My quick take is this seems to be a gathering of people who talk economic development, not people who do economic development. Gvt and institutional side, vs. actualy business people.
I'll refrain from snide comments about the obvious reality that this thus attracts alot of names from the lists of folks who were theoretically running RI's economic development effort for going on 20 years now, so some skepticism is pretty damn fair.
That said, a better effort at the business level that I think has flagged a bit was leanri.com . If Risurgence moved more in an empircal and less in a theoretical highfaluten talk direciton it might be useful.
I'll reserve judgment. Meantime, where are the actual questions. If I find any interesting, I might join to comment.
Brian
Rufus Mikatis
4:00pm on Sunday, July 08, 2012
Further research I conducted regarding the economic boost from a state operated or even a state owned but privately run campground similar in size to Burlingame would generate revenue of at least %8-12 million each camping season. With fees, ancillary services and local businesses that would flourish from increased tourism to ignore the potential is a shame. The figures I cite come from conversations with RV folks across the country and most are amazed that RI has only a couple of campgrounds; Burlingame, Fishermans and George Washington. The land is there, and with minimal effort and committment everyone would benefit. Just another example of how RI needs to be creative but alas this will probably never happen. Very frustrating for RI to lose camping revenue to neighboring CT and MA, obviously they know something that our elected officials choose to ignore.