Rhode Island has more fire districts, 43, than cities and towns. And like those 39 cities and towns, many of the districts have their own rules, protected by law, and ways of doing things. Rhode Islanders’ love of independence is deeply rooted and not without merit when it comes to providing much-needed local services. more

Entrepreneurs looking for a Wi-Fi connection, meeting space and limited overhead suddenly have a bevy of options aside from their local coffee shops. more

With its second round of Innovation Fellowships, The Rhode Island Foundation is making investments in the state that, unfortunately, few others are stepping forward to make. more

Thanks to efforts by the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, a number of Rhode Island’s most interesting, but less trafficked, cultural attractions are likely to experience attendance increases this year. more

More changes appear to be coming for the R.I. Economic Development Corporation, whether Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee wants them or not. Competing House and Senate proposals suggest that whatever ultimately emerges from the General Assembly, the independent governor’s reshuffling of the agency over the past year will not be the final word. more

There are good reasons for state and local officials and owners of the Industrial Trust Tower in downtown Providence to work together to save the Art Deco landmark. But not if it involves a government bailout. more

The vast majority of Rhode Island’s enterprises are small businesses, with fewer than 100 employees. It is no exaggeration to say that as they go, so goes Rhode Island. more

Women-owned businesses in Rhode Island are not growing at the rate as those in the rest of the country. Even more alarming, while the number of businesses is growing at that slower pace, the number of people employed by women-owned companies has actually shrunk since 1997, according to a survey by American Express. more

With its plan to expand educational efforts in downtown Providence, Roger Williams University is doing more than energizing its offerings. It will help boost the capital city as well. more

Rhode Island is enjoying a mini-boom in exports but, as is often the case with even the best economic news in the Ocean State, there is plenty of room for more. more