Newport Chamber of Commerce to House New Regional Economic Division

Request for Proposals Sought for Individuals or Firms

Newport, RI (October 5, 2017) – The Newport County Chamber of Commerce has issued a Request For Proposals for a Program Director for its Regional Economic Development Division, which will be dedicated to growing the regional economy of Newport County and the Town of Bristol. The position is a direct result of the collaboration of civic and government leaders from the communities of Bristol, Jamestown, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth, and Tiverton joining together to establish the first public–private partnership focused on economic development in the State of Rhode Island.

While this regional initiative has been underway for several years, it will now be consolidated as the Regional Economic Development Division of the Newport County Chamber of Commerce. In addition to the community support for this initiative, the van Beuren Foundation and Bank Newport were instrumental in funding this effort. Individuals or firms interested in providing professional services on a contract basis to lay the foundational work for the Regional Economic Development Division are encouraged to apply.

The overall goals of the Regional Economic Development Division of the Newport County Chamber of Commerce include establishing a point of contact within the region to address concerns and opportunities related to economic development initiatives. As part of a new five year strategic plan, a roadmap to maintain long-term economic vitality for the region will be developed. Working with existing companies to facilitate expansion of operations, the new division will strategically market the community to businesses and encourage new investment and jobs for the region.

The long term goal will be to build the region’s image as a great place for young adults, families, and entrepreneurs to settle because of its quality of life, recreational and natural resources, and career opportunities to attract, retain and develop a quality, skilled workforce. Performance tracking metrics will evaluate the success of the efforts and will be communicated to stakeholders, including town councils, town administrators, private and philanthropic investors and the overall community regularly.

For more information about this project or if you are interested in submitting a proposal, please check out the RFP:

http://www.newportchamber.com/requests-for-proposals.html

ABOUT THE NEWPORT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Newport County Chamber of Commerce is one of the state’s largest business advocacy organizations. With over 1,100 members representing over 50,000 employees, the Newport County Chamber’s goal is to find solutions for quality jobs, quality growth and quality of life. As a trusted and reliable source of information for nearly 100 years, the Newport County Chamber connects members with success while encouraging the development of the community.

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