First Regional 10-year Strategic Plan Adopted
Roadmap to Develop a More Resilient Economy for Greater Newport
Newport, RI-The Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce and Connect Greater Newport are excited to announce adoption of the first 10-year regional economic development strategy for Greater Newport that will serve as a roadmap to build a strong, competitive, and more resilient economy.
Connect Greater Newport, the Chamber’s economic development division and a public private partnership made up of regional stakeholders, developed the plan in consultation with representatives from municipal government leadership, private companies, regional institutions, and industry associations representing Hospitality and Tourism, Defense, Marine Trades and Manufacturing.
Erin Donovan-Boyle, Executive Director of the Chamber said, “The timing of the completion of this strategic plan could not be better. As leaders at all levels of government begin to assess the impact of the pandemic on our economy and strategies for recovery, we hope that they will turn to this strategic plan as a resource to help address the vulnerabilities of our communities, identify investment opportunities, and advance projects that will help us to have a more robust, diversified ecosystem that meets the demands of the modern day workforce.”
The plan outlines the region’s attributes and vulnerabilities, while offering solutions and strategies to support economic recovery and resilience in the years to come. Four strategic areas of focus were identified for the region:
- Enhancing Small Business Support Services and Capacity
- Investing in Talent and Skilled Labor Force Attraction & Retention
- Improving important Infrastructure Systems, including Workforce Housing, Transportation and Broadband Connectivity
- Advancing Projects of Regional Significance and potential for economic growth, such as the Tiverton Industrial Park, Newport’s Innovation District, and decommissioned Navy properties
The plan is intended to be a living document which will evolve as we emerge from pandemic-related economic issues and take actions to invest in our community’s future. The plan will be updated regularly to incorporate data points, project status updates, public policy implications, and other milestones.
The Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all the stakeholders who actively contributed their time and insights to the development of this plan in this first ever regional economic development effort.
A copy of the report can be downloaded at 2021 Greater Newport Regional Plan
ABOUT CONNECT GREATER NEWPORT
Connect Greater Newport (CGN) is the economic development division of the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce. CGN was launched in 2018 to lead a public private partnership with resources from Newport and Bristol counties with a mission to support the growth of the region’s existing businesses and to serve as a resource to attract new companies to the region. Through CGN, the Chamber has implemented a robust Business Retention and Expansion program and developed a 10-year regional economic strategy with recommendations to build a more competitive and resilient economy.
ABOUT THE GREATER NEWPORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce is one of the state’s largest business advocacy organizations, whose mission is to connect, innovate, enhance and advocate for the businesses of Greater Newport. As a trusted and reliable institution for nearly 100 years, the Greater Newport Chamber is a vibrant collective body of the greater Newport business community with nearly 1,100 members representing over 50,000 employees. We work to create valuable strategic partnerships, promote strong economic growth, diversity, and prosperity to serve its members and the Greater Newport region.
Contact: Erin Donovan-Boyle.png)
First Regional 10-year Strategic Plan Adopted