PROVIDENCE – Economic development officials from both the state and a nonprofit group have collaborated to launch a commercial real estate website they say will help companies looking to relocate or expand in the state.
The site, www.risitelocator.com, uses Geographic Information System software to provide in-depth data that previously took weeks to research, according to the R.I. Economic Development Corporation, the Economic Development Foundation of Rhode Island and the R.I. Office of Statewide Planning.
“Particularly in today’s challenging economic times, this new cutting-edge tool will help position our state favorably against the competition and within the New England market,” said Keith W. Stokes, EDC executive director.
The site has been in the planning stages since 2009, when a consultant hired by the EDC made recommendations to streamline the development process, such as assembling master plans for various communities and speeding up permitting.
Last November, Scott Gibbs, president of the Economic Development Foundation, said his group would cover the estimated $80,000 price tag for the site.
Also assisting with the local online real estate database was San Francisco-based GIS Planning Inc. The new website is tied into GIS Planning’s nation site selection search engine, www.zoomprospector.com.
“Over 97 percent of initial site selection screening is done online now and the new Rhode Island website provides immediate access to critical business intelligence needed to make an investment decision,” said Anatalio Ubalde, CEO of GIS Planning. “Speed-to-market is a competitive advantage for businesses. Rhode Island’s new online software took a process that used to involve weeks of research and reduced it to minutes.”
The EDC said real estate, demographic and industry breakdowns are available for every community in Rhode Island. Also, business prospects can track down available industrial, office and retail space based on location and size of the property.
