| 2/7/2013 |
Walaska calls for creation of Port Marketing Collaborative
STATE HOUSE – Last week’s announcements -- that the dredging project at the Port of Davisville is complete and that the port is now the seventh largest auto-port and one of the fastest growing ports in North America – are proof to Sen. William A. Walska that “Rhode Island’s ports are a vital aspect of the state’s economic development efforts.”
Senator Walaska (D-Dist. 30, Warwick), who co-chaired a commission that studied and made recommendations for future development of the state’s ports, said “the continued growth at Davisville and the future growth that will result because of the Assembly-supported dredging work are examples of what can happen when we re-focus our attention on our state’s greatest resources – the waterfront, ports and maritime industries.”
But the success at Davisville is only a part of the potential – for jobs and economic prosperity – that is possible with continued development of all the state’s ports. “It remains our goal to work to grow maritime employment opportunities as well as to promote all of Rhode Island’s waterfront assets in a way that will increase job opportunities,” he said.
To help promote and grow the ports, Senator Walaska has introduced legislation, (2013-S0172), “The Rhode Island Port Marketing Collaborative” act, gathering state agencies and maritime stakeholders to develop and maintain a strategic plan for the state’s ports, facilities and maritime trades, with a special focus on job creation.
The role of the RIPMC, as proposed in the Walaska bill, will be to create a place where key stakeholders (such as leadership at port facilities, economic development agencies, government entities) will collaborate on marketing strategy and coordinate development opportunities. It will also work to develop and maintain a strategic plan for Rhode Island’s ports, facilities and maritime trade, focused on job creation.
Members of the RIPMC will include representatives of various state and quasi-public agencies, including the Economic Development Corporation, Coastal Resources Management Council, Department of Environmental Management; representatives of various chambers of commerce, and representatives of various port-related businesses at ports in Davisville, Newport, Providence and Galilee.
“With all of the stakeholders in one location,” said Senator Walaska, “new financing options can be explored as well as ways to market Rhode Island port facilities collectively on a national and international level.”
“Development and implementation of a statewide port strategy, and working collectively to market our state’s ports and maritime industries, is critical to economic development and, as a result, future job growth,” said Senator Walaska.
In issuing its final report last year, the commission that Senator Walaska co-chaired noted that development of port infrastructure and growth of maritime industries could result in the creation of more than 1,000 new jobs, $70 million in personal income, $127 million in business revenue and $8.1 million in new state and local tax revenues in coming years.
The Walaska bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Corporations. Co-sponsors are Sen. David E. Bates (R-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence) and Senate Majority Leader Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, Providence, North Providence).
For more information, contact:
Randall T. Szyba, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-2457 |
LEGISLATIVE INFO
