Rhode Island Foundation and partner businesses showcase
state’s strengths
WARWICK,
RI – Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) will visit on Monday with innovative
partners in the “Rhode Island: It’s All In Our Backyard” campaign. Launched
recently by the Rhode Island Foundation, the statewide public education
campaign has tapped into advertisements, social media and video interviews to
celebrate the Ocean State and highlight its people, organizations, businesses
and industries. The tour was rescheduled from September.
“It has been
a challenging few years in Rhode Island, but we must not lose sight of all the
wonderful and unique things that make our state great,” Langevin said. “I love
Rhode Island, and I applaud the Rhode Island Foundation for highlighting the business
and personal success stories that remind us how lucky we are to live in the
Ocean State.”
Langevin and
Rhode Island Foundation President and CEO Neil Steinberg will focus on some of
the businesses thriving in the Ocean State. The tour will begin at the
Foundation’s Providence office, where a number of Backyard participants will
share their stories with Langevin. From there, Langevin and the Foundation will
visit Armando & Sons Meat Market of Providence, Fielding Manufacturing of
Cranston and FarSounder of Warwick.
“The state
has a self-esteem problem. This will change the way Rhode Islanders talk about
their state. There are plenty of successes to feel good about right here in our
own backyard – global industry and cutting-edge innovation, thriving
entrepreneurship, world-class universities and a vibrant arts and culture
scene,” Steinberg said. “Backyard is a fact-based campaign that uses the real
stories of real people to remind us of all the good things that are happening
here.”
“I visit
often with constituents and businesses that make me proud to represent Rhode
Island in Congress. I know that this tour will be no different, and I look
forward to brainstorming with the state’s best and brightest about how we can
improve our business climate and make sure everyone hears about the good news
being created every day in our state,” Langevin added.
The
Foundation is encouraging Rhode Islanders to share their own success stories on
the campaign’s blog at ourbackyardri.com and on Twitter using the hashtag
#ourbackyardri. Backyard’s funding comes from the Foundation, the R.I.
Commodores, Delta Dental of R.I. and the Victor and Gussie Baxt Fund at the
Foundation. Support and services have been donated by Channels 6, 10 and 12,
Clear Channel Media, Cox Communications, Cumulus Media, Full Channel,
GoLocalProv, Lamar, Paul Masse, PPAC, the Rhode Island Airport Corporation,
RIPBS, the Rhode Island Small Business Journal and Verizon.
EVENT
DETAILS
WHAT:
It’s All In Our Backyard Tour
WHEN:
Monday, October 21, 2013
WHERE:
Rhode Island Foundation
One Union Station, Providence
Tour
itinerary
• 11 to
11:30 a.m.: Meet at Rhode Island Foundation for a briefing on the campaign and
to hear from Backyard partners, including Jesse Rye of Farm Fresh, Jeff Morgan
of Brown University, Ray Fogarty of the Chafee Center for International
Business at Bryant University, Navyn Salem of Edesia, Lisa Carnevale of the
MYRANDA Group and Amy Bernhardt of Basics Group
• Noon-12:30
p.m.: Armando & Sons Meat Market
895 Elmwood Avenue, Providence
• 1 to 1:30
p.m.: Fielding Manufacturing
780 Wellington Avenue, Cranston
• 2 to 2:30
p.m.: FarSounder
151 Lavan Street, Warwick