Providence should retain businesses and grow jobs
07:07 AM EDT on Tuesday, August 31, 2010
The Providence Journal  |  Op-Ed
By Angel Taveras

Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives returned from its summer recess to approve a much needed $26 billion jobs bill. This newest installment of federal aid will help cities such as Providence avoid sending more pink slips to teachers, firefighters and police officers.

Keeping teachers in the classroom and cops on the streets is a good thing. But the next mayor of Providence needs to recognize that real economic development doesn’t come from one-time budget fixes or infusions of federal cash. Real economic growth comes from a thriving private sector.

Simply put, the next mayor of Providence must be a jobs mayor.

Last month, I laid out my jobs and economic development platform in the lobby of local life-sciences firm EpiVax. My plan focuses on what I call the three “R’s”: retaining our existing businesses, recruiting new investment and reforming our city’s economic-development policies.

First, Providence must retain our existing businesses: Our city is home to over 7,000 private businesses that together employ over 90,000 people. The vast majority — over 95 percent — of these businesses employ 25 or fewer employees. For these small-business owners, I will create a small-loan revolving fund so that small businesses have fast access to capital when they need it. I will work together with business owners to develop a tax-suspension program for small businesses that invest in their property. And I will focus on workforce development by accelerating school reform, investing in K-12 education, replicating successful programs such as Building Futures and updating the First Source program so that it better serves its intended purpose of putting city residents to work.

Step two is recruiting new firms, new investment and new talent to come and stay in our great city. We’ll do this by investing in infrastructure improvements, particularly in the Knowledge District. This includes building on the vision of Transit2020 and investing in a fleet of 21st Century, environmentally friendly street cars. Further, my administration will partner with our colleges and hospitals to support their continued development in a way that benefits all — institutions and residents alike. And we will use the new acres of land being opened up by the relocation of Route 195 as an economic engine for the city.

Finally, we need to reform the way City Hall interacts with the business community. Sometimes, the best thing City Hall can do is to get out of the way of business.

I will work with the secretary of state and the state Division of Taxation to make one-stop shopping a reality for Providence businesses. And, I will bring the Planning and Development, Inspections and Standards, Zoning and Licensing departments under one roof so that doing business in Providence is clear, fast and predictable.

We cannot talk about economic development in Providence without talking about taxes. So let me be clear: I steadfastly oppose the city’s recent tax hike. As mayor, I will veto any increase in the residential or commercial property tax rate that comes across my desk until we have exhausted every other option — zero-based budgeting, cuts of 10 percent and more in the discretionary spending of each city department, pension reform, labor givebacks, renegotiated payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreements and more — to save taxpayers money.

This jobs plan — retain, recruit, reform — must be implemented in a coordinated, strategic way. That is why on day one of my administration, I will submit a proposal to the Providence City Council to establish a dedicated, cabinet-level economic-development office tasked with coordinating these and other business-advocacy programs.

My economic-development office will lead a coalition of other Rhode Island mayors and town managers to eliminate redundancies and pursue opportunities for consolidation. Collaboration will be the name of the game: Collaboration with our congressional delegation, with the city’s legislative delegation, with the state Economic Development Corporation, the secretary of state’s office, the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, the banks and lending institutions, our small businesses, our colleges, our hospitals and the many other organizations that are essential to growing our economy.

The time for “turf wars” is over. You can read more about my plan at www.JobsMayor.com and offer your own ideas about how to create jobs and grow our city’s economy. There is no issue more important in this election than investing in economic development and putting Providence residents back to work. This blueprint will make that vision a reality.

Angel Tavares is a Democratic candidate for mayor of Providence.