Stewardship and accountability

The midsummer break in a post-gubernatorial election year projects a certain lull over the state in terms of political fire. What is not lost however is the need for Rhode Island as a whole to delve deeper into the issues preventing businesses from migrating to the Ocean State. Noticeable during newscasts and radio spots are common topics such as corporate and property tax structure coupled with the ever-lingering debate over incentives and stabilizations. Locals tend to point fingers and do little else.

Meanwhile a lack of competition is driving the cost of doing business in and around Boston higher than ever before. Ask executives from surrounding areas, “Does your company consider Rhode Island when looking to expand or relocate?” And the response is not tax-related. The honest reason is that there is a stigma that Rhode Island is just not a happy state.

Now, we cannot look at the local political leaders but rather the general population. This attitude that exudes itself from every opening seeps out and becomes contagious. The truth is that many people in the state are happy to contribute negative commentary; whether in an office elevator or the bread aisle at the market. Although it is convenient to blame those in power for statewide shortcomings, we as the general population must too take accountability.

Stewardship tends to be lost in 2015. Taking care of one’s home, however, is never going out of style. While numbers obviously contribute to corporate decisions, there is still a very tangible benefit to the general attitude surrounding an area. During an age when offices are open, collaborative spaces that include exercise, entertainment and cafes, employers really do care about employee well-being and environment.

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Denver has LoDo, Seattle has Ballard, San Francisco has The Mission and even the more established New York has Williamsburg. These are among the hottest cities for economic growth and each one has a local population helping to drive the expansion. The people in these places are ambassadors. Spend five minutes talking to a local and they will have you convinced that is where you need to live. Corporations now have social researchers who will help guide relocation decisions based on the general live, work, play package presentable to employees.

Therefore, next time you are ready to talk about our Ocean State, do just that. Talk about the beach; talk about the unparalleled cuisine; talk about the theaters; the universities; the easy transportation via rail or sky. Next time, be accountable and transform the state’s reputation. Negativity is contagious but positivity can become an epidemic. n

Gregory A. Paolino Jr. is a broker with Paolino Insurance Agency Inc.

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