Today, through a combination of new tax laws designed to woo creative workers as well as individual corporations and entire industries, an aggressive economic development agenda, a streamlined bureaucracy, and some extremely lucky timing, Rhode Island is building a new identity. The arts, innovation, and business-friendliness are the state's new mantra, and as a growth strategy, it's working like a charm...

...There's a clear focus on attracting high-wage jobs and high-wage earners, which Saul Kaplan, head of the Rhode Island Economic Development Commission, views as the next crucial step in the state's economic resurrection. "While all the rest of the economic development teams [in the country] are trying to fight for the crumb of getting your manufacturing facility," says Kaplan, "what we're trying to do is have conversations with top management to say, 'Come to Rhode Island. We'll help you innovate.'"...

...While parts of Rhode Island's economic development plan target technology, biotech, and finance, its sweet spot has turned out to be creative businesses...Josh Silverman moved from Boston to Providence in 2004, then moved his design and branding company, Schwadesign, from the Fort Point Channel area to Pawtucket in June..."Half the reason that I moved here is that this building and area has the same kind of openness and friendliness toward people who make a business out of their artwork or design that I used to find in the Fort Point area," Silverman says, adding that Fort Point just got too expensive...

...By denying that Rhode Island is growing into a serious competitor and by insisting that its good ideas aren't innovative enough to admit copying, Massachusetts economic officials are wearing the worst kind of blinders. They are also missing the opportunity to create a real regional economic strategy with a new ally that is now ready to join Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut in presenting a strong economic face to companies and industries that view the entire world as a potential site for expansion.