In an interesting juxtaposition of Providence’s business past and future, Virgin Pulse CEO David Osborne took the opportunity of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting to flesh out the company’s decision to move its headquarters from Framingham, Mass., to Providence.
The Chamber is beginning a year of activities that mark its 150 years of existence, with this year’s annual meeting the kickoff of the celebration. The program at the event included a roundtable discussion with Osborne, as well as Gov. Gina M. Raimondo, Hasbro Inc. Chairman and CEO Brian Goldner and Chamber President Laurie White.
The discussion among the four was wide-ranging, but when it came to the subject of Virgin Pulse’s move, Mr. Osborne could not have been more direct. Providence is “such a hip, cool town. I was blown away,” he said.
Mr. Osborne went on to note that the strength of the city’s workforce, thanks to its world-class universities, as well as its urban and accessible cultural life, are all things that today’s workforce craves.
Of course, he also noted that the job-creation program put together by Gov. Raimondo and her staff “is amazing.” Along with state real estate development incentives, Virgin Pulse is looking to take advantage of $6.2 million for what it hopes will be a 300-person workforce within five years.
For a company that could have moved its headquarters anywhere, Virgin Pulse’s choice of Providence is validation to a large degree of what the governor and her team have been up to in the last three years, as well as a harbinger of what may be.