What People Are Saying...

“ Rhode Island 's “Grow the Top, Build a New Middle and Move the Bottom Up” strategy is an opportunity for connection and collaboration. No one agency – government, business, education or community – can take on the breadth and depth of the actions required to create a 21 st century knowledge-based economy. Together, however, with our collective know-how, skill, resources, energy, understanding and compassion, all Rhode Islander's can embrace this innovative strategy of development. Together, we will achieve our dream of a Rhode Island in which every person can prosper.”
- Tim Hebert CEO, Atrion Networking Corporation and Chairman, Tech Collective

“ This report highlights several important strategies Rhode Island can pursue to strengthen its economy for the 21st Century, from investing in improved transit to fostering a more productive partnership for economic growth between the City of Providence and the State. The City of Providence is an engine of economic growth for the whole state, but it is an engine whose potential can only be realized with more active engagement by state leaders. By building on the assets in Providence , and in fact building on assets across the State, we can position Rhode Island to benefit from the changes in the economy taking shape today .”  – Mayor David N. Cicilline, City of Providence

“Ambitious, clear, and multi-faceted, that is how I describe this strategy. Rhode Island will be poorer if the principal goals of the strategy, growing the top, building a new middle, and moving the bottom up, go unmet. We Rhode Islanders must move beyond managing decline, and doing this will require concerted effort by the broader Rhode Island community. This strategy is a good guide to needed actions. It is inspiring, purposeful, and necessary. Count me in.” – Ken Payne , Principal of Systems Aesthetics LLC and Senior Analyst--Economic and Community Development, College of Environment and Life Sciences, URI

  “ At a time when it has become far too fashionable to be pessimistic about Rhode Island 's future, the new Rhode Island Economic Strategy provides a positive, visionary blueprint for playing to our strengths and creating sustainable prosperity. We at Grow Smart Rhode Island are particularly heartened by the Strategy's emphasis on leveraging our compact development patterns building a seamless transit system, increasing  our state's capacity for water supply and demand management and making Rhode Island a leader in conserving energy and creating new renewable energy supplies. ” –   Scott Wolf , Executive Director, Grow Smart Rhode Island

  “ Rhode Island 's economic development strategy needs to be all about creating and retaining high wage jobs. The plan's focus on such key issues as knowledge creation, workforce development and fostering a more competitive tax climate will help to move Rhode Island forward .” – Laurie White, President, Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce

“The plan recognizes the importance of human capital development – education and training – as central to our ability to Grow the Top, Build a New Middle and Move the Bottom Up . Reinventing career and technical education, providing internships, and creating opportunities for applied learning while supporting high academic standards and “The All Kids” agenda signals a serious commitment on the part of the Council and the business community.” – Peter McWalters, Commissioner for Elementary and Secondary Education

  “ The Rhode Island Economic Policy Council gets it. Their triadic strategy sets the agenda for a resilient Rhode Island in the twenty-first century. While acknowledging the importance of Rhode Island as the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, the Policy Council creates an inspiring yet grounded vision that continues building the foundation for a vibrant economy, innovative immigrant entrepreneurship, and organic communities .” – Ramon Martinez , CEO, Progreso Latino

“This three-part strategy is very clear. It allows agencies with adult education and training responsibilities to think about the implications for their multi-year planning. It provides welcome guidance as to how human capital investments fit into – in fact, are the cornerstones of – our state's plan to grow our economy.” – Johan Uvin, Director of Adult Education, RI Department of Education

“A lot has been said about what's wrong in Rhode Island . Too little is said about what's right. By putting forward a thoughtful strategy built on a positive vision, the Policy Council defines a path that state leaders and citizens can go down together. For moving forward together is the only way Rhode Island will reach its potential to sustain the quality of life – a pride in place defined in part by a clean and healthy Bay and watershed – that we want for ourselves and our children.” – Curt Spalding, Executive Director, Save the Bay

  “The Policy Council's urging to prepare for sea level rise and climate change in a way that exploits opportunities while mitigating risks, is the right outlook as we move to create a resilient Rhode Island . We at URI Coastal Resources Center and Rhode Island Sea Grant congratulate the Policy Council on the creation of this new strategy. Non-traditional partnerships to craft new innovative solutions are exactly what we need to resolve many of the issues facing our state, region, and country.” – Jennifer McCann, Team leader for US Coastal Programs, University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center, Rhode Island Sea Grant

Download Strategy as PDF (4 M)

Download Executive Summary and Strategic Project List (638 K)