Rhode Island has had a declining economy for years. Local small businesses may be the key to stimulating this suffering economy, especially when local dollars are being locally spent.

Over the course of the next semester I will be researching many local small businesses that are in the start up phase.  I hope to experience a local company transition out of the start up phase and begin the journey to maximizing their business to the full potential.

My group members and I shot stills at Hope & Main in Warren, R.I. and in the downtown business districts of Warren, R.I. and Barrington, R.I. I thought this would be a good location to begin with, as Hope & Main has become the local source for small businesses in their grassroots phase.

Hope & Main was an abandoned elementary school that was eventually taken over and transformed into a culinary business incubator. Though this business has been successful, this was not the owners original plan.

Lisa Raiola needed to start eating locally, but didn’t know any local companies to turn to. After doing a lot of research and finding little results, she started planing to open her own local food business. She then lacked another resource, someone to help kickstart her business.

She discovered the abandoned school and immediately realized the space would serve as an ideal incubator, where many small business and entrepreneurs could seek proper assistance.  She recognized the demand, and created a supply for it.

Hope & Main now has up to thirty companies that is has supported throughout their start up phases. Businesses like this have the power to add hundreds of jobs and kickstart many small businesses in Rhode Island. Just one idea could add significant growth to the state’s economy.