The State of Rhode Island could learn a thing or two from the Town of Warren, and Lisa Raiola.
The Warren Town Council recently voted to work together with the Bristol resident on an idea so novel in Rhode Island that it’s never even been tried here before — turn a vacant blight of a building into a job-building venture.
There was (and still is) plenty of risk involved in the Hope and Main project, which will transform the old Main Street School into Rhode Island’s first kitchen incubator (story, page 1). But it’s a risk well worth taking. The thinking that went into it is just what this state needs to climb out of the business development cellar.
Indeed, the state should pay attention to the project, and listen up. As Ms. Raiola sought to find funding for her $3 million venture, she had numerous meetings with state officials who, in the end, declined to offer her a low interest loan. This while lawmakers practically drooled over retired baseball player Curt Schilling and his video game company.
In the end, Rhode Island offered Mr. Schilling a $75 million loan, and Ms. Raiola and untold numbers of other would-be small business ventures got nothing. Everyone bemoans the lack of innovation in Rhode Island, but it’s hard to encourage innovation when you throw large sums of money at sexy, high profile business ventures while ignoring those of substantially lower means, whose ideas would require much less help. Helping the little guy along with a gentle, small push makes sense and would create jobs, but it’s not happening on any significant scale in this state.
But if that “help the little guy” mentality sounds familiar, it should — it’s Hope and Main’s business model. Lend a hand to the woman with the great recipe, or the guy who can smoke a mean bluefish, and give both the means to get their product out to market. Teach them about business and marketing, help them navigate complex state regulations, turn them into pros. In short, empower them.
That’s what Hope and Main Street aims to do. The state would be wise to take its lead.
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