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NEW: Smiley Releases Jobs and Economic Development Plan

Thursday, April 03, 2014

GoLocalProv Politics Team

Providence mayoral candidate Brett Smiley unveiled his comprehensive plan to create jobs and grow the Providence economy on Thursday.

Smiley's plan promises to make Providence an attractive place to start or grow a business by changing the way City Hall interacts with the business community, focusing on the following seven areas:

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Smiley's plan includes automating licensing and permitting services, ensuring equal access to city projects for minority and women-owned businesses, working in close partnership with our hospitals and universities, promoting local sourcing of labor and goods, investing in the thriving culture and tourism sector, encouraging the growth of entrepreneurial activity in arts and design, taking advantage of the short-sea shipping potential of Providence's port, and recognizing and utilizing the economic power of the entire region.

"All the elements are present to bring about an economic renaissance, and with the solutions I've outlined in this plan, I know we can realize our full potential as a hub of arts and culture, innovation and entrepreneurship, manufacturing and design and more," Smiley commented.

He added, "The City of Providence already has great businesses, nonprofits and citywide initiatives focused on creating jobs and growing the economy. We need a mayor with a vision for how to capitalize on these strengths - a mayor who recognizes his role as the Chief Economic Development Officer for the city. That's the kind of Mayor I'll be."

Smiley released his plan at the offices of TRAC Builders on Wolcott Street in Providence. This site is the first "net-zero" building in Rhode Island, producing all of its own energy from renewable sources. Additionally, TRAC Builders invests heavily in energy-efficient buildings and affordable housing.

Two elements of Smiley's "Jobs & Economic Development Plan" were already released last month - proposals to take the politics out the revolving loan functions of the Providence Economic Development Partnership (PEDP) and to create an Office of Strategic Partnerships to bring new resources into the city.

Related Slideshow: Rhode Island’s Highest Paid Mayors and Managers

The Rhode Island Department of Revenue's Office of Local Government Assistance, for the past 23 years, has conducted an "annual salary survey" of municipal positions in the state.

Below are the salaries reported for chief executives -- Mayors or Town Managers ranked by municipalities (with the position) in 2012, from lowest to highest. According to the survey, the amount "does not include fringe benefit data."

Positions appointed are indicated with an (A); positions elected are marked with an (E).

#33 Central Falls

Chief Executive Pay: $26,000 (E)

Finance Director: $87,125

Planning Director: $66,625

#32 Richmond

Chief Executive Pay: $51,500 (A)

Finance Director: $56,706

Planning Director: $50,218

#31 West Greenwich

Chief Executive Pay: $60,866 (A)

Finance Director: N/A

Planning Director: $52,412

#30 Cumberland

Chief Executive Pay: $67,799 (E)

Finance Director: (Vacant -- PT)

Planning Director: $70,250

#29 Warren

Chief Executive Pay: $70,000 (A)

Finance Director: $62,424

Planning Director: $52,020

#28 North Smithfield

Chief Executive Pay: $71,289 (E)

Finance Director: $71,235

Planning Director: $58,394

#27 North Providence

Chief Executive Pay: $75,000 (E)

Finance Director: $52,000

Planning Director: $62,098

#26 Johnston

Chief Executive Pay: $75,000 (E)

Finance Director: $95,000

Planning Director: $69,746

#25 Lincoln

Chief Executive Pay: $78,677 (E)

Finance Director: $80,610

Planning Director: $67,709

#24 Woonsocket

Chief Executive Pay: $80,000 (E)

Finance Director: $90,000

Planning Director: $82,750

#23 Cranston

Chief Executive Pay: $80,765 (E)

Finance Director: $96,425

Planning Director: $75,247

#22 Bristol

Chief Executive Pay: $81,162 (E)

Finance Director: N/A

Planning Director: $78,438

#21 Tiverton

Chief Executive Pay: $83,900 (A)

Finance Director: N/A

Planning Director: Vacant

#20 Pawtucket

Chief Executive Pay: $84,253 (E)

Finance Director: $82,000

Planning Director: $72,269

#19 Hopkinton

Chief Executive Pay: $89,000 (A)

Finance Director: $73,043

Planning Director: $51,816

#18 Charlestown

Chief Executive Pay: $93,000 (A)

Finance Director: N/A

Planning Director: $67,546

#17 New Shoreham

Chief Executive Pay: $95,146 (A)

Finance Director: $85,058

Planning Director: N/A

#16 Warwick

Chief Executive Pay: $100,000 (E)

Finance Director: $118,249

Planning Director: $97,648

#15 Smithfield

Chief Executive Pay: $100,940 (A)

Finance Director: $77,250

Planning Director: $65,920

#14 Jamestown

Chief Executive Pay: $106,957 (A)

Finance Director: $82,426

Planning Director: $71,481

#13 Burrillville

Chief Executive Pay: $110,520 (A)

Finance Director: $80,000

Planning Director: $80,000

#12 North Kingstown

Chief Executive Pay: $111,394 (A)

Finance Director: $82,442

Planning Director: $82,442

#11 Westerly

Chief Executive Pay: $117,305 (A)

Finance Director: $106,088

Planning Director: $76,812

#10 West Warwick

Chief Executive Pay: $120,000 (A)

Finance Director: $91,357

Planning Director: $69,000

#9 Coventry

Chief Executive Pay: $122,000 (A)

Finance Director: $97,150

Planning Director: $83,884

#8 Providence

Chief Executive Pay: $123,762 (E)

Finance Director: $140,000

Planning Director: $85,098

#7 East Providence

Chief Executive Pay: $125,000 (A)

Finance Director: $112,210

Planning Director: $97,350

#6 Portsmouth

Chief Executive Pay: $126,000 (A)

Finance Director: $95,819

Planning Director: $78,382

#5 East Greenwich

Chief Executive Pay: $131,005 (A)

Finance Director: $96,255

Planning Director: $77,835

#4 Newport

Chief Executive Pay: $135,000 (A)

Finance Director: $120,799

Planning Director: $100,531

#3 Barrington

Chief Executive Pay: $143,977 (A)

Finance Director: $106,194

Planning Director: $75,716

#2 Middletown

Chief Executive Pay: $147,350 (A)

Finance Director: $97,025

Planning Director: $89,436

#1 South Kingstown

Chief Executive: $153,853 (A)

Finance Director: $119,610

Planning Director: $93,181

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