R.I. EDC and RIMES announce new alliance

PROVIDENCE – The R.I. Economic Development Corporation and Rhode Island Manufacturing Extension Service today announced that, as part of “a new alliance aimed at strengthening the state’s manufacturing sector,” RIMES will join the EDC in the agency’s new headquarters on Valley Street.
“Manufacturing is an important part of our economy, past, present and future,” EDC executive director Saul Kaplan said in a statement.
“Today, there are more than 51,000 manufacturing jobs in Rhode Island. These are good, high-wage jobs that range from jewelry manufacturing and boatbuilding to biotechnology and precision electronics production.
“We are pleased to partner with an organization as respected as RIMES to support this important industry sector. By working together, we will be better positioned to support and grow manufacturing activity across the state, creating new and better jobs for Rhode Island’s citizens.”
RIMES was established to aid the state’s small and mid-sized manufacturers in solving business problems and help increase their competitiveness and profitability via offerings that include facilities planning, strategic growth, organizational development and supply-chain services. Since its inception in 1996, it has assisted more than 600 companies.
“Across industries and around the state, on the factory floor and in the front office, RIMES works with manufacturers to identify their core issues and develop pragmatic, cost-effective solutions that produce high-impact, measurable results,” said Leslie Taito, CEO of RIMES.
“We are thrilled to now offer these services in alignment with the business development programs offered by the RIEDC. By streamlining our services with the state’s offerings, we hope to make it easier for Rhode Island’s manufacturers to access the tools and resources they need to grow.”
Added Kaplan: “We can create new manufacturing jobs in Rhode Island if we focus on helping companies to innovate.”
RIMES not only will join the EDC in its offices at the former American Locomotive Works on Valley Street, where it will move next month, but also will work closely with the EDC’s business development team to more actively promote the services of both organizations.
Their new partnership “is another step towards reconfiguring the RIEDC’s programs to better meet the needs of today’s businesses,” Kaplan said. Central to this, and all of the changes we’ve made at RIEDC, is a sharp focus on creating partnerships and collaborations that better leverage our existing resources and assets … will enable us to put forth the best, most comprehensive set of services and solutions for growing Rhode Island’s economy.”
Additional information is available at www.riedc.com and at www.rimes.co.