R.I.’s website, “Greater Rhode Island – Think Bigger,” wins awards

GREATERRI.COM a website that provides business stories and impartial data about the state and encourages investors and business professions to start or expand businesses, recently won two awards.
GREATERRI.COM a website that provides business stories and impartial data about the state and encourages investors and business professions to start or expand businesses, recently won two awards.

PROVIDENCE – The state’s website, “Greater Rhode Island – Think Bigger,” which aims to market Rhode Island’s strengths and demographics, has won two awards from a Northeast economic development group.
At its conference on Sept. 7-9 in Worcester, Mass., the Northeastern Economic Development Association recognized the website with a first place award as well as a “President’s Award.”
The R.I. Commerce Corporation, the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, and the Economic Development Foundation of Rhode Island created and maintain the website, which launched in November of 2013.
The “Greater Rhode Island: Think Bigger” website “stood out throughout the long and challenging process of selecting our 2014 award winners,” said Jim Keib, the association’s executive director.
As a public/private collaboration, the website “harnesses many of the best tools and insights in the industry to promote an economic development plan and attract positive attention for and business interest in Rhode Island,” he said.
The data and information on the website is aimed at attracting business expansion in the Northeast by allowing developers and entrepreneurs to “make an informed decision and consider Rhode Island,” said Marcel A. Valois, executive director of Commerce RI.
The President’s Award, which identifies the most outstanding submission, had one other contender.
Chamber President Laurie White said winning the President’s Award suggests the methods Rhode Island is using online to promote its assets are the “right steps.” Those assets include its location between New York City and Boston, top education and research facilities, hospitals, start-ups and established businesses, she said.
The interactive website pitches those assets as it works to quantify why the state is a good choice for relocation, starting a business, or expanding. The website also highlights the growth companies and industries that are already here.
“Working together, we have created a high quality, well-researched tool that will drive business interest in Rhode Island, and reach corporate executives who may not have previously considered our state,” White said.
Scott Gibbs, executive director of the foundation said the collaboration between the three groups has resulted in a digital strategy that can “better position the Rhode Island product in the Northeast market.”
Visit www.GreaterRI.com, or follow the website on Twitter @GreaterRI or #ThinkBiggerRI.

No posts to display