Preservationists, developers and municipal leaders have been meeting since Wednesday in Newport at a three-day conference focusing on sustainability in Rhode Island. Source Newport founder Robert Bailey, who organized the conference, spoke with Providence Business News about what issues are being discussed there.
PBN: Why hold this conference in Rhode Island?
BAILEY: This effort is a real experiment. Can the smallest state in the country draw thought leaders in planning to discuss ready-now energy and housing innovations?
That’s a mouthful. But what it requires is pulling together individuals driven by the desire to solve the most complex problems we have. Our canvas, if you will, is our 17th-century Rhode Island. … This was the most prosperous colony for a time. It shows in the architecture. We have mislaid the lessons of cooperation and collaboration that put wealth to work then. At the conference we are reminding citizens that we have the solutions to America’s global challenges in our genes.
PBN: Could you tell me a little bit about the topics being covered at the conference?
BAILEY: Rhode Island has two lives – its perceived life and its real life.
The real life is very positive. The state takes its lead from Providence and how it runs. The old cast of characters in Providence is being replaced by a group of very talented, cooperative and dedicated individuals. Over the past five to six years, due to the efforts of some steadfast political leadership, a few very savvy investors and the collaborative effort of the state’s universities and colleges, Providence has become a go-to city again.
The perceived life is that the 1938 hurricane and the U.S. Navy leaving give us one choice – tourism and a state government to dole out hope. These are self-limiting thoughts for individuals. They are reckless guides to young people in the state. New York City has tourism, but they also have a few other things, too. So do we. And it is starting to show here.
I interviewed [R.I. Economic Development Corporation Executive Director] Saul Kaplan for a radio show here in Newport. For preparation, he provided me with the Kauffman Foundation’s State New Economy Index. The Kauffman Foundation is a $2.5 billion foundation based in Leawood, Kan. This is a very objective study from a small foundation that marshals its funds carefully. It shows that Rhode Island has risen in numerous key economic metrics. Coincidently, this trend started with the departure of the cast of characters. This is strong positive news that is underreported. Maybe because it’s good news.
The question for the state isn’t a hand-wringing, “What will we do?” A better question is “How seriously do we want to be taken?”
Seifert Systems Invests in Energy Efficiency to Strengthen Operations
For manufacturers, energy is more than just another operating expense. It plays a critical role…
Learn More
PBN: Are there certain types of projects in this state that you’re highlighting?
BAILEY: Like the National Trust for Historic Preservation, nonprofits have done a remarkable job over their tenure in saving significant historic properties. However, the economics are changing for the traditional keepers of the past. In short, the endowments have not kept up with the value of the properties they are maintaining. There is the potential that their institutional liabilities could outstrip the endowments capacity to generate sufficient operating funds.
We are introducing a number of ways that investors and nonprofits can manage historic property. But they can also solve planning issues by working together. That became apparent to us as we found agreement between the preservationists and the new urbanists. It was a wonderful surprise.
This is why the Source Newport discussion is linking energy programs with historic property. Investment in sustainable business offers a coherent and more sustainable plan than clinging to mature industries. The actions taken by the state’s nonprofits and the state’s political leadership provide examples to other leaders. Together they create a map for how business will be done here. The more responsible and innovative they each are, the faster the recovery and the more sustainable the future growth will be.
PBN: What support have you seen from state and nonprofit leaders?
BAILEY: Magnetic. But perhaps not in the way you might think. In second grade, we learned about using magnets to pick up iron filings to demonstrate the North and South magnetic poles.
Big ideas are attractive to some people and they repel others. I had no idea what to expect or who to expect support from. Overall, it has been a positive process that has led us to some very smart and hard-working and thoughtful people. A few of them will be at the Source Newport summit; more will be involved in the online business during the year.
I made this [creating this conference] harder on myself in one way: I wanted a business entity rather than a nonprofit entity when establishing Source Productions and our online businesses. I wanted to ability to make decisions and act quickly.
People ask, “Who are you with?” I guess they expect me to name a big nonprofit. No nonprofit would be able to act as quickly as we have or say the things we do. The state and nonprofits are realizing that a responsible ally like this can be very helpful to them. That is what I would like us to be – a responsible ally. Here, and nationally, too, we can provide access to and feedback from top leadership in the world of sustainable, intelligent, green development and community adaptation. Top business reporting is limited to publications like this and a very few national ones. So, primary information sources are more important than ever before for alerting business people. That is where we come in.
PBN: How is the current state of the economy tied into the conference and how does it relate to sustainability issues?
BAILEY: Like most economic areas today, sustainability ties to our immediate energy use and to the management of our natural resources. Sustainable planning isn’t a nice to have. It’s a need to have.
[New York Times columnist] Thomas Friedman explains America’s situation well in his new book “Hot, Flat, and Crowded.” We are financing both sides of a war that threatens global stability. We pay for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and we buy the oil that finances our enemies.
We could say, “Aw shoot, the Navy’s gone, what can we do?” Or, we can make a contribution to the solution here by creating well-functioning, sustainable institutions with innovative solutions. In other cities, such steps draw business visitors who ask, “That’s neat, how’d you do that?” Rhode Island has much to be proud of, which could provide the path to a wonderful future. My task is getting individuals to act responsibly before the challenges become expensive beyond money.
For more information about Source Newport and its 2008 Sustainable Development and Restoration Congress, visit www.sourcenewport.com.
