The Rhode Island Manufacturers Association is proud to present Rhode Island Manufacturing Renaissance Week 2000. RIMA is a three year old association of 170 progressive Rhode Island manufacturers who collectively employ over 20,000 Rhode Islanders. The week, scheduled for May 1, 2000 through May 5, 2000, will start with a kickoff breakfast on May 2, 2000 at the Pawtucket Visitor’s Center across from Historic Slater Mill, the birthplace of American Manufacturing. The Honorable Governor Lincoln Almond and the Honorable Lt. Governor Charles Fogarty will discuss Rhode Island executive and legislative branch actions aimed at improving the state’s business climate. Christopher Bergstrom, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Economic Policy Council, will unveil a state wide policy aimed at supporting the capital investment, new product development and workforce training efforts of Rhode Island’s most progressive manufacturers. These companies have demonstrated a continued desire to improve product offerings, workforce involvement, and the expansion of domestic and international markets.
The Governor will also present the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce’s Samuel Slater Quality Award to Arkwright Incorporated during a Legislative Reception at the State House on Thursday May 4, 2000. The reception will afford the state’s manufacturers and legislators an opportunity to discuss issues in front of the General Assembly that affect the industry.
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The week will also feature tours of various RIMA member facilities. Manufacturers across the state will open their facilities to school to career tours for grades 6 – 12 and for all members of the General Assembly. These tours are aimed at familiarizing students, parents, educators and legislators to the array of safe, clean and lucrative positions available at the state’s manufacturing facilities.
The Co Chairmen of Rhode Island Manufacturing Renaissance Week 2000 are Jonathan Farnum, CEO of Wardwell Braiding in Central Falls and George Schuster, CEO of Cranston Print Works in Cranston. Both of these proud manufacturing concerns have reshaped themselves in the face of international competition and have committed themselves to their deep Rhode Island roots.
The National Association of Manufacturers, NAM, is Co-sponsoring the week’s events with The Beacon Mutual Insurance Company and the Rhode Island Economic Policy Council. NAM leaders from Washington DC will be on hand to discuss national congressional issues impacting manufactures from coast to coast. Among the topics are the impact of HMO and Employer Liability in Healthcare, New Ergonomics rules from OSHA and Foreign Trade Policy.
RIMA is a non-profit, member-driven association, created to enhance the ability of Rhode Island manufacturers to compete effectively and profitably in local, national, and global markets.
RIMA’s goal is to serve as the unified voice of the state’s manufacturing sector. RIMA addresses, promotes and educates Rhode Island’s citizens, media, and government officials regarding the important contribution a strong manufacturing base makes to our local, national and global economies. RIMA continuously strives to improve the business climate its members operate in and the workforce they employ.
RIMA’S vision for Rhode Island’s future
We are committed to a future in which Rhode Island is held up as a model for the successful cooperation of a state’s government with its manufacturing community. We are dedicated to the development of an energetic and positive business climate that not only retains existing, but attracts new businesses and capital. We seek to raise the level of awareness of manufacturing’s importance in creating wealth and acting as the backbone of our economic prosperity.
RIMA’S objectives
Educate the public, media, education and government leaders as to the importance of a competitive and profitable manufacturing base in Rhode Island.
Provide a resource for lawmakers and the state government’s administration.
Play an active role in the legislative process.
Create a program of inter-firm collaboration among members designed to share information on a wide range of subjects of common interest such as technology sharing, bench-marking and best practices.
Partner with the state government in its efforts to recruit new companies to Rhode Island.
For further information please feel free to contact Executive Director, Nicholas R. DeRosa at 401 737 3627 or visit the RIMA website at www.rimanufacturers.com.
