Numbers by themselves rarely tell a complete story. And that's certainly the case when assessing the success of emerging local industries.
In terms of beer production, for example, the state trails the rest of New England by a wide margin, as this week's cover story reports. And the number of local jobs in the industry, about 150, won't get anyone outside of the 14 local breweries and brewpubs now in operation touting it as the state's next growth industry.
But like another player in the state's entrepreneurial economy, the Hope & Main food-business incubator, there's more to the story.
Just three years ago, the state had just one packaging craft brewery. When Long Live Beerworks opens later this fall in Providence, there will be 10.
And the enthusiasm within the local industry is contagious, including several growing festivals that cater to home brewers and beer enthusiasts.
The year-old Hope & Main's numbers are similarly underwhelming, with about 30 entrepreneurs actively working out of the Warren incubator. But the incubator is the first of its kind locally, and another with similar designs is looking to follow in its footsteps in Providence.
Whether it's craft brewers or bakery startups, the common denominator is the entrepreneurial spirit from which all "next great things" spring from.
And operations like Bill Nangle's blue Rhode Island Brew Bus, which tours local breweries, serve another purpose: They help make Rhode Island a more fun and lively place, no matter what the numbers say. •