Hoping to make the Ocean State more competitive in the high tech arena, the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation is proposing a research and development business park in Westerly. “We’re trying to position ourselves so that we’re attractive to existing companies and possibly win some business from Connecticut – who knows?” said Tom Schumpert, executive director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC).
Schumpert mentioned RIEDC’s Mass-Exodus.com campaign, which succeeded in luring four Massachusetts technology companies to Rhode Island. Continuing RIEDC’s goal to develop the area’s high tech community, it is hoped that the new Westerly park would encourage Rhode Island techies to work in-state.
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“States are constantly competing for high tech workers,” he said. “This [new business park] could help enable Rhode Islanders who are trained in high tech to stay at home to work.”
“That’s what we worry about most,” said Bill Parsons, RIEDC’s director of corporate services.
Schumpert said the region is becoming increasingly popular residentially, and lacks adequate business space for companies interested in the area. This type of complex could make Westerly more attractive for business.
“South County is growing,” Parsons said. “This gives them an opportunity for a new labor market.”
No site has been chosen for the project. The town of Westerly, in collaboration with RIEDC, will study parcels of available land. Parsons estimated that the ideal location would be about 100 acres.
“We’re asking potential partners to identify a site,” Schumpert said.
Another goal of the project is to develop the technology park in a way that will preserve Westerly’s quality of life.
“The ideal candidate is a business that would be environmentally friendly,” Schumpert said.
There is no timeline for the project.
“There’s not a set time,” Parsons said. “We want to do it right.”
