'Tis the Season for accolades coming our way. We tend to overlook the good news in these trying times but that doesn't mean major progress isn't happening.

In case folks missed any of these news announcements, here is a recent recap of good news happening in RI--

•  Rhode Island was cited as a top performer in the 2008 State New Economy Index, a report published by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF). Released today, the 2008 Index ranked Rhode Island 11th in the nation in a state-by-state analysis of how state economies are transitioning to economic development strategies that focus on the creation and retention of high-wage jobs in growth industries. Rhode Island has moved up four places from its 2007 Index position, and has moved up from 29th when the Index was first issued in 1999. See http://www.riedc.com/news/2008/11/ri-named-top-performer-in-the-2008-state-new-economy-index

• For the second year in a row, Bryant University's chapter of the Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization (CEO) was named the nation's Best Overall Chapter. It is the first time any chapter has won back-to-back top honors. See http://blogs.bryant.edu/newsroom/?p=147

• (RIEDC) has reorganized the management of the state's Renewable Energy Fund, making what officials called a "new commitment to stimulate job growth in green technology (and) green energy sectors of Rhode Island’s economy." See http://riedc.com/news/2008/11/riedc-seeks-job-growth-green-sectors-focuses-renewable-energy-fund-create-energy-independence

• In his new book, “Iconoclast: A Neuroscientist Reveals How to Think Differently” (Harvard Business Press, 2008), Emory University professor Gregory Berns commends Rite-Solutions CEO Jim Lavoie and his partner for creating a company culture that he says promotes innovative thinking. See http://www.pbn.com/stories/36449.html;

• Peter M. Collins, Founder and President of A2B Tracking Solutions Inc. in Portsmouth, RI, has received the prestigious ID People Leadership Award from the ID WORLD International Congress. The winners of this year’s ID People Awards – the Oscars of the Auto ID industry – were revealed during the seventh ID WORLD International Congress, held in Milan, Italy in late November. Awards were presented at the annual ceremony in recognition of the contribution made by leaders, innovators and pioneering adopters who have distinguished themselves by their achievements during the past year.This comes on the heels of another recent big win for the firm--In late October, they announced that they had been awarded a contract to implement the UID systems and services for various DoD departments that is worth up to $70 million.

This isn't all the good news we have seen in the Ocean State lately, but it is a good representation of some of the great stuff going on here.