Mayor Presents to Northeast Rail Shippers Convention (remarks)

The following is the text of the Mayor's remarks to the Northeast Association of Rail Shippers, which has brought more than 200 leaders from Canada, the northeastern states, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York:

[ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & GREETINGS]

• Joe Gearin, Executive Director of No. East Association of Rail Shippers (NEARS)
• Scott McCalla, Senior Analyst with Casella Waste Systems

[BRIEF INTRODUCTION & WELCOME TO PROVIDENCE]

• Many of you have come some distance to get here, and on behalf of the people of Providence, Rhode Island, I welcome you.
• From the Maritime Provinces to the District of Columbia, and from all of the northeastern states, New York and Pennsylvania, you are well represented….
• And now that you are here, we invite you to explore our city, visit our boutiques and restaurants, walk along our historic Benefit Street and enjoy the classic architecture, travel along our waterfront, and enjoy our great sporting events and if you're brave enough - be a part of the legendary XFACTOR auditions, going on this very week in our downtown.
• You'll find out there is much to see and do, while you are in our company, and we think you'll want to come back soon.

[PROVIDENCE'S ASSETS]

• We proudly say the beauty of Providence is our proximity to so much of the nation's economic activity and population. It is in fact one of our greatest assets.
• Our location along the Boston-Washington corridor opens us to inordinate opportunities; and our situation along the East Coast, opens the door for world-wide trade and short-sea shipping.
• One-quarter of the nation's population is within a 500 mile radius of Providence.
• We have a region-wide population of more than 50 million people, and our combined Gross Metropolitan Product is $1 Trillion dollars.
• We are also home to some of the nation's leading corporations - Textron, Hasbro, GTECH and CVS Caremark.
• And we have a dramatically growing Port of Providence, emerging knowledge economy, and a great world-wide reputation for our hospitality and creative economies.

[UPON TAKING OFFICE]

• I became Mayor of Providence 16 months ago, and as honored as I was to assume this important position, I knew that I and my administration faced enormous challenges - and enormous opportunities.
• For the past 16 months, I have been fully engaged in addressing the massive structural deficits which plagued Providence - as they plague many older American cities.
• From Pension Reform to increasing financial participation by our non-profits and universities to streamlining government, to shouldering additional taxes - everyone is making a sacrifice….and it is well worth it.
• In this short time, we have addressed a $283 million structural deficit, and eliminated nearly $110 million in debt.
• Brown University has committed a $31.8 million Payment in Lieu of Taxes over the next 5 years
• Johnson & Wales University has stepped up with its commitment and accelerated more than $11 million in payments
• Lifespan - home to some of the region's leading hospitals and health care research institutions is supporting us with a 1st-ever multi-million payment in lieu of taxes.
• It is recognition that we share a responsibility in protecting our capital city.
• And while we are not quite yet there, there is much light at the end of the tunnel.

[COMMITMENT TO A SAFE AND PROSPEROUS CITY]

• My commitment to a stronger city includes that of an educational agreement - building a strong public school system that allows for a level playing field for Providence's youth.
• And one that lets us build a workforce for tomorrow's jobs, linking public school students to the careers of tomorrow - so they, too, may share in the American Dream.

[BUSINESS GROWTH & JOBS CREATION]

• Central to a strong and prosperous city is the commitment I made to make job creation and business growth a top priority.
• We have been demonstrating that in many ways:
• Appointment of a super-cabinet position - Director of Economic Development
• Increasing access to loans, technical assistance, workforce training
• Forming landmark partnerships with organizations such as the US Small Business Administration, the RI Economic Development Corporation, the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce.
• We've created a first-ever investment program for innovative businesses, seeding more than 16 small start-ups in high-tech business with more than $1 million and creating nearly 32 jobs ,
• We're attracting companies like Hasbro and 38 Studios and Sims Metals Management, and restoring our historic Arcade,
• and of course - making a full commitment to support our working waterfront and our very successful Port of Providence.
• We have also taken a more aggressive partnership role with our Governor and RI General Assembly leadership, and our city and state offices of Economic Development, to leverage the resources we each have to grow good-paying jobs and stable industry right here in our capital city.

[PORT OF PROVIDENCE AND P&W]

• Essential to our city's future is a great link to its past: the Port of Providence and the Providence and Worcester rail lines.
• Providence was built on manufacturing but before that, it was legendary for its maritime trade.
• The rail lines became a critical part of the economic and physical infrastructure of our city, and helped it develop its prowess as the Industrial Revolution developed, and as manufacturing became - and remains - an important staple of our economy.
• The vital connection between the two has affirmed our role historically in the marketplace and where we will be growing.
• It is said that fully 31% of our nation's Gross Domestic Product is a result of export trade.
• For Rhode Island and its capital city to have a role in it, it must take full advantage of the great natural resources we have, and support a strong system of ports and rail services.
• Businesses can operate remotely, these days, too - and the urgency of distribution centers located close to rail and Port - and interstate and air - is becoming more apparent.
• Providence is poised just right for those operations.
• In the last two reported years (2009-2011) more than $2.3 billion in exports were made through the Ports of Providence and Davisville.
• Everything from scrap metals to machinery, to primary metals such as iron, steel and alloys, to chemicals, we are moving products world-wide…..
• This means we are generating revenues, creating good-paying, stable jobs and expanding our city, state and nation's strength in the global marketplace.
• It is said for every $181,000 of products exported, another job is created or supported. With every $1 billion of exports 5,000 jobs are created ---it is clear, there is huge value in this effort. It means a better quality of life for workers, more money returned to the economy, improvements to homes, businesses and our overall quality of life.
• For Rhode Island - through our two ports - there is another important number and it is growing: Our overall exports increased by 53-percent from 2009 to 2011…compared to the nation's average of 40-percent. For certain, we are on the right side of that equation.

[HOW DO WE HELP?]

• So how do we in the public sector help you - in the private sector - build on that success?
• We can fully support our working waterfront, for one thing.
• As many of you may know, there has been much discussion about the best and highest use of properties along the Allens Avenue corridor, and at the Port of Davisville.
• In this administration, I have made it clear I support a strong and vibrant working waterfront. We fought for and won a recent TIGER ll grant to allow expansion at the Port. We've worked with the EDC to fund improvements - including more security, linking the separate rail lines, and increasing lay-down area.
• We've used our federal UASI designation to allow for increased security in the Port area, including the purchase of fire boats and special cameras and sirens to protect residents, businesses and Port workers.
• And the State EDC is now taking the lead on getting two new cranes at ProvPort, which will enable stevedores to do the important work of transferring cargo unto and off of the ships, and lead to significant growth - among businesses and the commerce they generate.
• Importantly, our federal delegation fully supports our work along the waterfront and at the Port and is lobbying as hard as anyone for extra - critically needed - dollars to expand this enormous asset. Our Rhode Island District Office has joined us in a formal partnership for the next two years to expand access to programs to those along the waterfront in our HUB and Enterprise Zones.
• The Port of Providence which is now privately managed will revert back to the City in the year 2037. We expect by then, jobs and business expansion will have grown significantly.
• The Port - with a very enviable draft of 41-feet - makes it the 2nd deepest port in the north east - and it means commerce there can only grow. And with the turning radius of 100', we can get a lot of big ships into our port. This too, will expand, as more businesses learn about our potential.
• With the advent of short-sea shipping, and the opening up those international routes, Providence can have an important role and all of you here may be affected by those opportunities. Certainly, both the rail shippers and the Port will be crucial pieces of the emerging infrastructure.

I thank you for the opportunity to join you this morning, and know your being here bodes well for this city! Please enjoy your stay here and reach out to me and my administration if you have other ideas on what we can be doing to support your important work.

Thank you.