Why Rhode Island?

Infrastructure

From building super high speed internet connectivity to improving traditional transportation systems and investing in our ports and other key growth centers, Rhode Island is creating an infrastructure for the 21st Century. Our strategic, cost-effective location in the heart of the Northeast corridor — approximately 45 minutes from Boston and three hours from New York City — provides direct access to the world’s key transportation routes making it that very easy to reach the fifty million consumers who live within 300 miles of our state.

T.F. Green International Airport

Adjacent to Interstate 95 and connected to Amtrak’s Boston-Washington line, the airport capitalizes on existing intermodal infrastructure to provide a mixed-use hub offering office, hotel, residential and retail development opportunities.

Quonset Point Business Park and Port of Davisville

The Business Park is home to 168 companies, employing more than 8,800 people in every sector of the economy. The Port is the 7th largest auto importer in North America is closer to Europe than any similar facility located south or west of Rhode Island.

Port of Providence

The port is one of the busiest in America’s northeast and has the distinction of being one of only two deep-water ports in New England. The addition of two high performance harbor cranes will expand its capabilities to accommodate container operations.

Research & Development

Rhode Island is a strategic hub for Research and Development activities. Our state enjoys more colleges, universities and hospitals within a one-hour drive than any other area of the world. Within our borders, we also have a federal lab dedicated to undersea warfare, an industrial base that boasts the second highest in the nation business R&D expenditures in proportion to payroll and an academic medical center that features the fourth highest in the nation per capital investment of NIH funding. Complementing the private and non-profit R&D is a state tax infrastructure that provides multiple R&D incentives, including the most generous R&D tax credit in the country.

Bio is Big in the Smallest State

BioWorld’s Summer 2009 Expansion and Relocation Report names Rhode Island one of the top 6 biotech hotspots in North America. The report called Rhode Island a “small state with a big appetite for biotech.” Our central location and small, collaborative size adds to our biotech appeal along with competitive R&D credits and substantial incentives.

The Ocean State

Rhode Island is known as the Ocean State and we are proud of our maritime tradition. We are home to The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC), the Navy’s premier R&D Center for submarine and undersea warfare systems, the U.S. Naval War College, highly skilled manufacturing companies such as Electric Boat and Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, and a growing industrial cluster for the yacht-building and -servicing industry.

Quality of Life

Rhode Island is a wonderful place to work, live and raise a family. Within the 1,000 square miles we call home, you will find walkable city and town centers close to working farmlands, forested areas and the incomparable resource that is Narragansett Bay. A vibrant arts scene, award-winning theatre, collegiate, professional and international sports competitions, outdoor concerts, international festivals, celebrated museums and acclaimed dining establishments mix with miles of pristine coastline, hundreds of salt and freshwater beaches and one of the largest concentrations of historic landmarks in the nation. And getting around is easy. Our Capital City of Providence is never more than a 30-minute drive from anywhere in the state — from the beaches of South County to the City-by-the-Sea, Newport, to the farms and bucolic beauty of Northwestern Rhode Island.

Oldest Fourth of July Celebration

The Bristol Annual Fourth of July Celebration, established in 1785, is the oldest continuous celebration of its kind in the United States.

Last Great Places

The Nature Conservancy named Block Island with its nature trails, pristine beaches and Victorian architecture, one of the “Last Great Places” due to its diversity and natural beauty.

Economy

With our working ports, efficient air, highway and rail systems, world-class colleges and universities, a highly skilled and educated workforce, proximity to major international markets, lower real estate and living costs regionally, and high quality of life, Rhode Island has the economic, cultural and natural assets to attract growing businesses and help them succeed in our state.

37th largest metro economy in the country

The Providence metropolitan region is the 37th largest metro economy in the country with workers who earn a median wage of $55,253 and have a median age of 38.5.

Eleven colleges and universities

Rhode Island is home to eleven colleges and universities with a combined population of 35,000 students.

Workforce

Rhode Island’s workforce is well known for its high productivity and diverse set of skills. The state’s long tradition in metal, electronics, plastic and other manufacturing is complemented by an expanding workforce in financial and business services, life sciences and information technology. In addition, Rhode Island’s strategic location gives companies an unsurpassed opportunity to draw highly-educated workers from throughout southern New England. Almost two-thirds (64%) of New England’s population lives within 75 miles of Providence — a higher proportion than either Boston or Hartford.

Dedicated to Student Achievement

As one of only six states in the country to receive Race to the Top awards for both the K-12 education system and early childhood education, Rhode Islanders are dedicated to working together to raise student achievement and improve the quality of education in our state.