For businesses that are new to Providence, there are several important resources available, ranging from city and state government to the local public library and chamber of commerce. The Economic Development Corporation, located in the Westin Hotel, has packets of information for each of the major industries in the state, with a directory of all the Rhode Island businesses in that industry. The packets include state corporate income tax rates, information on enterprise zones, hourly wage charts and more.
Also available from the EDC is the “Tools for Growth” folder, which includes information on export assistance, financial assistance, investment incentives, site location services, job training assistance, urban initiatives and government contract assistance.
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The Providence Public Library is also helpful for a new business to research statistics pertinent to their organization. The PPL has a general business file, a bibliographic database relative to industry, and a phone service to answer questions about statistics, addresses, or any type of question coming in. Their business assistance line is (401) 455-8005. The Library also has extensive information there about patents and trademarks.
”We can handle just about any type of question coming in,” said Ann Poulos, head of business services.
If a business needs more information, and cannot afford to send someone out to find the answers, all they need to do is search the Internet. Here are some sites that are quite helpful:
www.Beavertail.com: This site features a free community service called bestlinx, which is an ongoing Rhode Island link directory with over 2,500 links in over 230 categories, including a business category, which has sub-categories of finance, industry, products, real estate, resources and services. There are plenty of helpful Rhode Island links here, but a majority of them are not specific to Providence.
www.businessfirst.org: What many consider to be the single source for business assistance in the state, the organization is a collaborative effort between the E.D.C., the Economic Policy Council, RACE for Performance Excellence, the Department of Environmental Management and many others. The site poses many questions that a business new to the area would have, and answers them through links to some of the participating organizations’ sites. For many of the questions, the pages simply suggest you call the organization.
www.OSO.com: Ocean State Online is a fun site to visit to get acquainted with the local color, and the Test Your R.I. I.Q. section might help you prepare for trivial conversation at a business lunch, but the business value is not incredibly high.
www.provchamber.com: The site of the oldest and largest business advocacy organization, The Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, contains a very helpful statistical profile in the “Partners” section, as well as a business locator, a calendar of events, a chance to join the Chamber and other links.
www.providencecvb.com: The site of the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitor’s Bureau is tailored more to visitors than people who are staying in town for good. For the visitor though, the information here is very helpful. There are specific explanations of the Potato Heads around the city, and Water Fire, both of which would probably not make much sense to a visitor who had never heard of either.
www.provlib.org: This is the site of the Providence Public Library. You can try to find information here if the business services line is busy. There are several national resources that can be narrowed down to be state-specific.
www.referenceusa.com: This site is a service that is offered through the Providence Public Library. You can enter the first 5 digits of his or her PPL card, and look up absolutely any business in the United States, and find out things such as the company’s address, phone and fax numbers, principal contact, number of employees and estimated revenue.
www.Rhodemap.com: Because many of the sites here are featured on each other’s sites, this site has much of the same statewide information as the others. There are a few links that are unique to this site, but mostly it’s the same stuff here.
www.RIEDC.com: The site of the Economic Development Corporation is like visiting their headquarters, but without the personal touch. There are several pieces of information on how to make sure you start your business right. Already a very comprehensive site, there are options to e-mail E.D.C. employees for assistance.
www.RISBDC.org: The home page of the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center is unique in that it consists primarily of a schedule of upcoming business-related seminars and workshops, and contact information.
