RI Biz Winners and Flops - October, 2015

Sunday, October 25, 2015

GoLocalProv Business Team

It seems to be the season for new economic development initiatives both at the State and the City level. Lets take a look at some winning economic development ideas.

Winners

BIG IDEA from Elorza -- Mayor Jorge Elorza is promoting EveryHome, an initiative focused on creating a suite of tools to “put local businesses to work rehabilitating and filling every boarded and abandoned property in the City of Providence.”

“Abandoned properties have been bringing the quality of life in our neighborhoods down for too long,” said Mayor Elorza. “The EveryHome program gives us the tools to put local businesses to work filling every vacant and abandoned home in Providence.”

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Elorza’s big idea if implemented and successful would topple one of the cities biggest problems.
The program is designed to address abandoned properties and produce local jobs for these projects through utilizing an expansion of the receivership program, withholding vacant properties from tax sales to promote rehabilitation and aligning federal investments with the goals of the initiative.

"Rhode Island Housing is pleased to be a part of Mayor Elorza's proposed solution for putting blighted, abandoned properties back to productive use," said Barbara Fields, Executive Director of Rhode Island Housing.

BIG IDEA from Elorza (Part 2) -- Mayor Jorge Elorza and Rhode Island School of Design, DESIGNxRI and Social Enterprise Greenhouse announced Providence Design Catalyst — a program developed to provide grants up to $35,000 to design-driven small businesses in the capital city.

“Providence is deeply rooted in art and design based industries. The Providence Design Catalyst program builds on that strength by enabling small businesses to get off the ground and grow in the Creative Capital,” said Mayor Elorza. “If you run a design-driven small business in Rhode Island, Providence wants to help you succeed. I urge you to apply today.”

The program is funded by $500,000 of federal funds available for arts and design based economic growth. The program will be administered by an advisory committee comprised of representatives of the City and partner organizations.

“Supporting Providence and Rhode Island’s capacity for innovation and creativity has been at the core of RISD’s mission since its inception. The Providence Design Catalyst is an effective way to advocate for, and invest in, a local community of designers,” said RISD President Rosanne Somerson. “RISD is pleased to continue to partner with the City of Providence and DESIGNxRI on an initiative that is well positioned to highlight the increasingly important role of art and design in fostering long-term sustained economic growth locally, nationally and globally.”

Top Realtor -- Rhode Island Association of Realtors has announced that Joseph Luca of RE/MAX Preferred was chosen by his peers as the 2015 Rhode Island Realtor of the Year. The award recognizes one of more than 4000 Realtors throughout Rhode Island for their dedication to the Realtor organization and their local communities. The statewide winner is chosen from the winners of five regional Realtor of the Year awards.

Brown Engineering -- There may not be a lot of cranes in the sky around Providence, but there should be some new ones popping up on the East Side. Brown University held their groundbreaking for its new $88 million Engineering Building.
The school’s new three-story, 80,000 square-foot structure will include specialized facilities for nanoscale and biomedical engineering, along with two full floors of new lab space designed to expand cross-disciplinary research aimed at addressing the world’s critical problems and challenges. It has been designed by Philadelphia-based KieranTimberlake and will be built by Shawmut Design and Construction.

According to Brown, the groundbreaking was the first of a series of events scheduled for the launch of Brown’s comprehensive fundraising campaign. One of the academic priorities of the campaign is funding for a theme articulated in Brown’s Building on Distinction strategic plan, “Using Science and Technology to Improve Lives.” This includes significant support for the School of Engineering.

Big Promos

Regan Communications has named Kate Barba Murphy a Vice President in its Providence office.

“Kate has spent more than a decade at Regan effectively helping clients reach their PR goals,” said Lisa Doucet-Albert, Senior Vice President, Regan Communications Group. “She is a consummate team player and also understands the importance of giving back to the community.”

A 14-year veteran of the public relations industry, Kate manages a variety of national and consumer-brand accounts, including Dunkin’ Donuts; Feld Entertainment, producers of Disney on Ice, Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and Monster Jam; and Meeting Street, focusing on event coordination, crisis management, community relations, and media relations.

Shawmut Design and Construction has tapped Marianne Monte as the chief people officer. Monte is a strategic human resources executive with a proven track record in effective executive coaching, talent management, and business partner leadership. Monte will partner with and support senior executives in Shawmut’s eight offices nationwide.

Prior to joining Shawmut, Monte was the vice president of human resources at the Hanover Insurance Group and a senior vice president at BankRI. Monte recently served on the transition team for Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo.

BIKES -- the Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition doubled the size of its board and extended the contract of Program Director Alex Krogh-Grabbe, who has raised $11,000 since starting work in June. Biking is BIG Business is many cities and a spark to economic growth. Hot cities often have great biking programs. New members of the RIBike Board of Directors include vice president Sarah Mitchell of Pawtucket, Eveling Vasquez of Providence, Amanda Resch of Providence, and Rep. Teresa Tanzi of South Kingstown. And, returning to members of the board are president Matt Moritz of Providence, treasurer Mark Dieterich of Bristol, secretary Margherita Pryor of Providence, and Barry Schiller of North Providence.

FLOPS

195 Development - vacant land and crickets. There is nothing else going on but some road work in the area. The $600 million project to move the highway was designed to be the economic spark to grow Rhode Island's economy. Presently, there are no significant projects approved for development. Enough said.

RI Business Rankings in US

WalletHub

Rhode Island has 2015's eighth highest insurance premium penalties for high risk drivers, according to a WalletHub report.

Rhode Island ranks fifth overall in the category of speeding over 20 mph annual premium increase at $482. While ranking third overall in the category of 2 accidents annual premium increase at $2,721.

Rhode Island ranks ninth overall under the reckless driving annual premium increase at $749.

WalletHub

Rhode Island has been ranked as the 8th most eco-friendly state in the country, according to a recent study by WalletHub.

Rhode Island ranks third in environmental quality and 16th in Eco-Friendly Behaviors Ran landing them in 8th overall.

RI is behind Washington and New Hampshire who are in the six and seven spots respectively, and in front of Connecticut and Hawaii who come in at the nine and ten spot.

WalletHub

Rhode Island is 2015's 4th Worst State to be a taxpayer, according to a recent WalletHub report.

Rhode Island ranks 48th of 51 with an average state and local tax price of $7,159 which is good for a 27% difference from the national average.

The states that are directly behind Rhode Island are Wisconsin at $7,159, Nebraska at $7,298 and Illinois at $7,719 for a 37% difference from the national average.

WalletHub

Rhode Island has the highest vehicle property taxes in the country, paying an average of $1,133 according to a report from WalletHub.

Virginia and Kansas are the two states just ahead of Rhode Island in the 49 and 50 spots, paying $962 and $905 respectively.

RI also ranks 42nd in average real estate tax, paying an average of $2,779, according to the WalletHub report.

WalletHub

WalletHub has ranked Rhode Island as the 7th worst state to be rich in in a recent in depth analysis of 2015's Best States to be Rich or Poor From a Tax Perspective.

On a scale with 1 being the best, and 25 being average, Rhode Island ranks 37th in low income earners, 42 in middle income earners and 45th in high income earners.

To see the full report, click here.

Gallup

Providence-metro ranks at the bottom for job creation in 2014

Rhode Island has been ranked amongst the worst in job creation, according to a recent survey done by Gallup.

Gallup gives the Prov-metro area an index score of 23, the lowest score is the New York- New Jersey area with 20.

Salt Lake City, Utah and Austin-round Rock, Texas rank the highest with a score of 37.

See the rest of the rankings here.

Forbes

The 2014 state rankings by Forbes has just been released and Rhode Island moved up two spots from #48 in 2013 to #46 in 2014.

What does Forbes say about RI's business environment"

After Michigan and Illinois, Rhode Island has experienced the third worst net migration out of its state in the country over the past five years. With a recent unemployment rate of 7.6%—lower than only Georgia and Mississippi—residents are leaving the state in search of jobs. Rhode Island has been stuck in the bottom five overall for six straight years. One plus: labor costs are 5% below the national average, which stands out in the expensive Northeast.

Tax Foundation

Findings from The State Business Tax Climate Index were released this morning by Tax Foundation which found Rhode Island to have the 45th best tax climate for businesses for 2015. The state's rank has not changed since last year after The Index analyzed 100 different tax variables in multiple categories.

WalletHub

After conducting an online suvery consisting of 1,050 individuals from both parties across the nation, WalletHub ranked Rhode Island as having America's 33rd fairest tax system.

Click here to view the poll's entire findings

Thumbtack/Kauffman

Providence is the second worst city in America for small business, according to a new survey conducted by Thumbtack.com and the Kauffman Foundation.

More than 12,000 small businesses in 82 cities across the country participate in the survey. Providence received an overall "F" grade for small business friendliness.

Full Survey Results Here.

The Economist

Small Business Friendliness Grade: F

The Economist grades states on an A+ to F grading scale for its small business climate. Rhode Island is one of just 6 states to earn an "F" grade.

Overbearing bureaucracy and excessive licensing is stifling small business in America.

CNBC

CNBC ranks each state in cost of doing business, economy, technology and innovation.

Rhode Island's unemployment rate as of May 2014 was 8.2 percent. This is RI's lowest unemployment rate since August 2008.

Forbes

Forbes ranks each state in business costs, economic climate, and growth prospects. RI is third worst in 2013.

The most damning in the commentary:

After Michigan, Rhode Island has experienced the second worst net migration in the country over the past five years.

ChiefExecutive.net

#39 ChiefExecutive.net

ChiefExecutive.net ranks each state in taxations and regulations, workforce quality, and living environment.

The most damning in the commentary:

Sky-high unemployment rate bespeaks continuing terrible business climate.

Tax Foundation

#46 Tax Foundation

Tax Foundation ranks each state in corporate tax rank, sales tax rank, and unemployment insurance tax rank.

Rhode Island and the other states in the bottom ten suffer from the same afflictions: complex, non-neutral taxes with comparatively high rates.

Wallet Hub

#24 Wallet Hub

Wallet Hub ranks each state in ROI rank, state tax rank, and overall government services.

Rhode Island ranked #50 for worst roads and bridges, but ranked #4 in safety.

ALEC

#47 ALEC

ALEC ranks each state in economic performance and outlook.

Although Rhode Island ranked low in economic performance, a forward-looking forecast is based on the state’s standing in 15 important state policy variables. Some of these variables include top marginal personal income tax rate and sales tax burden.

Kauffman Foundation

#50 Kauffman Foundation

Kauffman Foundation ranks each state in entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurial activity generally is highest in Western and Southern states
and lowest in Midwestern and Northeastern states.

Free Enterprise

#47 Free Enterprise

Free Enterprise ranks each state in performance, exports, innovation + entrepreneurship, business climate, talent pipeline, infrastructure.

Rhode Island has continued to feel the direct impact and ripples from the recent recession—it ranks 47th overall in economic performance. However, positive rankings of 15th in talent pipeline and 16th in innovation and entrepreneurship suggest the existence of a foundation on which to build the future.

The Pew Charitable Trusts

#40 The Pew Charitable Trusts

The Pew Charitable Trusts ranks each state in job growth and job creation.

Rhode Island added 6,223 jobs in 2014.

Gallup

10th Worst in Gallup's Annual Ranking of State Job Markets 2014

Rhode Island has been ranked 10th worst for job creation in Gallup's annual ranking of state job markets in 2014 with a job creation index number of 21

Rhode Island is one of two (Connecticut) states to rank in the bottom ten each year since 2008.

The 2014 State level findings have were drawn from 201,254 interviews with employed adults across the nation.

See the full list of rankings here.