Raimondo pools ideas for quick, long-range RI fix

John Howell
Posted 12/18/14

Governor-elect Gina Raimondo gave the pitch Tuesday night, and more than 140 leaders – from CEOs of non-profits to the decisionmakers of some of the state’s largest companies – were ready to …

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Raimondo pools ideas for quick, long-range RI fix

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Governor-elect Gina Raimondo gave the pitch Tuesday night, and more than 140 leaders – from CEOs of non-profits to the decisionmakers of some of the state’s largest companies – were ready to accept the challenge to turn the state around and make this a better place for all citizens.

The occasion was her economic summit, which was initially planned as an intimate, closed-door session with 80 invitees and mushroomed into a media event where Raimondo’s newly selected out-of-state secretary of commerce fielded questions and even got to ask some of his own.

Projecting high energy and the sense that anything is possible, Raimondo called on her audience to “leverage and build upon what we have now.” She said the state needs immediate action and “some quick wins.” She asked that people not draw boundaries in terms of thinking of fresh ideas and involving others in the effort.

“Don’t filter the good ideas. It is time to think differently,” she said. “We can do this. We all have to have courage.”

Raimondo asked her audience to consider how to better utilize its institutions and identify what workforce skills are missing.

Those ideas sprouted in moderated breakout sessions focused on five different topics, including workforce development, manufacturing, small business, infrastructure and tourism/hospitality. The ideas were plentiful and, contrary to concerns that the media’s presence would result in grandstanding and monopolization of the discussion by a few, the sessions were inclusive and not only brought fresh ideas but also identified trouble spots.

Because of the turnout, the summit originally scheduled for the governor-elect’s transition office, was relocated to the Downtown Providence campus of URI.

Among those drawbacks to manufacturing were the costs of electricity and other utilities and the cost of transportation. Apart from transportation costs, the inability of the state’s ports to accommodate container ships and an inadequate runway at Green Airport, which is to be lengthened to 8,700 feet by 2017, were identified.

In remarks to the news media that swarmed around him and Raimondo, Stefan Pryor, who has been nominated to fill the newly created post of secretary of commerce, said the state “is positioned for success.” Pryor said he is looking forward to learning what’s working in the state. He said it “is so essential to have a well prepared workforce.”

K. Joseph Shekarchi, co-chair of Raimondo’s transition team, said yesterday that the governor-elect’s policy personnel and the Office of Regulatory Reform would review the ideas garnered. He said the team would be looking to see “what we can do fast, right now, and then what becomes part of a long-range strategy.” He said an “idea book” would be created and that Raimondo might follow up with another summit, but not until after the inauguration.

Shekarchi said Raimondo continues to evaluate current directors – she has moved to reappoint A.T. Wall as the director of the Department of Corrections and Janet Coit as director of the Department of Environmental Management – and the search is nationwide. He said the incoming governor is looking to name a “diverse” cabinet and staff with people with different areas of expertise.

In an informal survey, several attendees were asked if there was one thing they would advise Raimondo what it would be. No two answers were the same, perhaps indicative of the challenge Raimondo faces in implementing a vision for the state.

For Fred Carpionato, who owns multiple shopping centers and developed Chapel View, the Crowne Plaza and other developments, the future of the state lies in private/public partnerships. He suggested that Raimondo take over the development of the Route 195 land in Providence as that project has been held up for too long.

“We’ve got a problem with the state,” he said. “It’s the politicians. Hopefully, Gina Raimondo can change that.”

For Warwick commercial realtor Donald Morash, Raimondo should first move to streamline the permitting process for businesses, noting that in many cases it takes months and thousands of dollars for businesses to open their doors.

Taco president and CEO John Hazen White pointed to the state estate tax and matching the state’s sales tax to that in Massachusetts. Elimination of the estate tax, he contends, would keep business leaders here and bring in new ones.

“The only way to fix the problem is to raise the tax base,” he said.

Steve Kitchen, vice president of corporate education and training at the New England Institute of Technology, likewise mentioned Massachusetts. He advised Raimondo to go back 30 years and look at what Massachusetts did to build its economy. He also suggested Massachusetts be used in identifying key indicators that would give Rhode Islanders a handle on how it is faring against its top competitor.

Hope Global president and CEO Cheryl Merchant saw the summit as a beginning.

“I hope she does it again,” she said. “It will give hope, and I believe it can go to another level.”

Geoff Grove, president of Pilgrim Screw, found the session refreshing.

“It is not just the same cast of characters,” he said.

On the top of Grove’s list is state support of HealthsourceRI. He said affordable healthcare is critical to small business.

Tim Horan, Rhode Island president for National Grid, thought “two or three quick wins” are critical for Raimondo. He suggested National Grid could play a role in renovating schools to make them energy efficient. He said such projects would generate immediate jobs, provide a benefit people can see, improve the environment for students and have a long lasting impact.

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