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Question #1 - Economic Development What do you consider essential factors for bringing significant, dynamic economic growth to Newport? Focus on and develop one idea that is important to you and explain what actions you will take.
Economic Development People are Newports greatest asset. Its shop owners, restaurateurs, artist, fisherman, lobstermen, and small and large contractors are the driving engine of our economy. Investment into these citizens will give us the largest return on time and resources expended on their behalf. Our service industries need people out of their cars in walking into their shops and restaurants. Institutionalizing the parking plans used for large events such as the Americas cup is the very important in the short run. We also need to expand the parking garage at Americas Dup Ave and investigate the possibility of building one in the North End of the city. Long-term investment may include sponsoring training and small business forums that allow for business owners to share their ideas with each other and the council who serves them. In regards to the skilled laborers in our community what is needed most is an ability to have them reproduce themselves. They need access to technologies that improve their competitive edge. Educational institutions are best suited to this role. In order to increase our workforce, partnerships with high schools and technical schools have to be initiated or expanded. Apprenticeship program have to be developed or expanded. There are machinist jobs, welders jobs, construction jobs, that could become self-generating in Newport when we build a labor force trained through private and public partnerships. These ideas and others that I may propose come from speaking with citizens and leaders in the community. They are the most important partners the council has in expanding the prosperity of Newport. Economic Development There are a number of critical factors necessary to spur economic growth: low tax rates; available property; strong work force; low crime rates; flexible, but consistent zoning laws; strong infrastructure (roads, parking, power, technology, communications, etc); and a committed elected leadership willing to support business. I have three ideas for economic development. To begin, I believe we can do a better job of marketing the Sheffield School property for commercial development. It is a prime location, yet it remains unsold three years after the city missed an opportunity to get it back on the tax rolls. That missed opportunity appears to have spooked commercial investors. We need to more aggressively market the property to bring the right business to Newport. Secondly, Id like to expand parking options to increase our capacity for residents and short term visitors: tourists, consumers and employees. In recognition of this need, the city implemented a parking enterprise fund many years ago, to use parking funds to construct a new parking garage. However, the revenue collected never seems to be used for the intended purpose. Instead, those funds have been raided regularly and misused to pay for pet projects and cover budget shortfalls. We recognized a need for more parking. We designed a way to pay for it. Yet the city council short-circuited that success by inappropriately diverting enterprise revenue funds. We cannot allow that to continue. Finally, and perhaps most significantly, Id like to explore a city takeover of the 50 Washington Square facility. At present, that private property provides shelter and subsidized housing and appears to do so for profit. This use of the
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
Economic Development For seven and a part years, while in office, I have tried to persuade the Newport County Chamber of Commerce, the Visitors & Convention Bureau, the City Council & anyone who would listen, that Aquidneck Island must be advertised/promoted to those small to medium size companies West of the Hudson, North of the Ohio, East of the Mississippi and South of the Great Lakes, promoting the life style and business advantages of this area. As it stands our promotion such as it is, is up & down the East Coast where we are talking to the choir. An example of such a promotion can be made with Paducah Kentucky. This lazy little river town advertised itself as an art colony and art destination, nationally and internationally, only to become one. There is no reason that we cannot do the same, with available space & buildings in present inventory. We need to increase our vision far beyond a three month plus tourist town. Economic Development The key to economic development is making Newport attractive to investors. While there are significant economic growth opportunities in the north end, including the Naval hospital land, Broadway corridor, waterfront and downtown tourist zone, if Newport is not seen as the place to invest in, the full potential of these opportunities will go unrealized. To improve the economic development climate, we need to modernize and streamline municipal regulatory processes as much as possible and develop flexible economic development-focused zoning. Toward these ends, we need a strong planning and economic development focus in City Hall. Parking continues to be a challenge, and the city needs to do more to maximize the potential for public/private partnerships to expand parking, both in the city center as well as on its outskirts. To the extent that the high cost of housing and the reputation of our school system are seen as impediments to investment, we need to identify ways of mitigating and improving these factors. Newport could be a destination for events larger than we currently attract, but to do that we need an event center larger than we currently have, preferably one co-located in a new hotel/retail complex. Development of such a facility would add to the tax base and would have tremendous multiplier impact on tax revenue generated by business sector. Economic Development Due to a serious illness in her immediate family, Kate Leonard has not responded to the Questionnaire.
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
Jeanne-Marie Napolitano - at large candidate Harry Winthrop - at large candidate Marco Camacho - 1st Ward Candidate
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org
PO Box 2636, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 | Email info@newportalliance.org | Website http://www.newportalliance.org