This editorial appeared in today's edition of North East Independent.
Twenty-one year old Englishman Samuel Slater left England in September 1789. Dressed as a farm laborer, he didn’t arouse any notice from the British troops and customs agents guarding the seaports against the illegal export or larceny of valuable manufacturing plans. The most important were plans based on British advancements in the field of water-driven textile machines. The American textile industry was offering bonuses of $100 ($2,510 in 2009) for technical knowledge of manufacturing machinery. Slater arrived in New York City in December 1789.
Though young, Slater had been apprenticed to work in a cotton mill at the age of ten, learning about machines, technology, operations, and factory management. At the conclusion of his apprenticeship, Slater left England to pursue greater fortunes in the land of opportunity. Less than a year later, Slater’s skills, experiences, and entrepreneurial drive led him to Obidiah (Moses) Brown in Pawtucket where he improved and expanded Brown’s fledgling cotton mill. An experienced young man, a skilled merchant and industrialist, and some natural water resources were joined together to establish Rhode Island as the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. Rhode Island offered the right place, the right people, and the right time. Rhode Island mattered and was a national leader.
Rhode Island still matters and it could be a national economic leader again with many of the same successful Rhode Island keys that drove and supported vital innovation 220 years ago. Here are three things we can do now to make our state number one.
+ First, encourage all students to gain real skills and get practical work-style experience before they finish public school.
+ Second, match successful business owners and managers with the new generation of inventors, scientists, and innovative thinkers.
+ Third, turn every public library in every Rhode Island community into idea and new business incubators.
When we support our state’s most important 21st century resource---people---we can achieve great success and show the world once again that Rhode Island Matters!
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*Adapted from Why Rhode Island Matters! First in Independence, Industry, Art & Innovation (Shoreline Press, 2010), by Ann Marie Marshall, Economic Gardener for Exeter & North Kingstown. She writes the weekly business blog, http://rieconomicgardener.blogspot.com. She is a Republican candidate for House District 31.
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Ann Marie Wrote:
ReplyDelete"Since most job creation is by small businesses located locally, it makes sense to pour our energies into helping our neighbors grow their businesses."
YES!
My sentiments exactly! Read on:
We at the End Hunger Foundation seek to address the root cause of hunger; poverty by working to create community wealth.
The best way we know to do that is by encouraging shopping locally for local products - this income goes directly to the 'bottom line' of the community and increases local and state revenue as well.
The best way we know to do that is by direct consumer interaction through product sampling tied to compelling incentives.
We have a working model program that is simple, effective and at virtually no cost for businesses to showcase their products and services to a primary target demographic of new residents / homeowners.
Contact me for details on this; Steve Maciel 401-368-1325, endhunger@cox.net www.1of52.com.
And YES! Lets collectively capitalize on the fact that "Rhode Island... (is the) the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution" and focus on Made in RI products to improve our economy.
Please share with your fellow business person.
Best, Steve