Elizabeth Tanner is focused on making it easier to do business in Rhode Island.

The state’s secretary of commerce recently offered members of the Warwick Rotary Club a rosy picture of the Rhode Island economy saying that the state ranked sixth in the country in terms of its economic turnaround in the wake of the pandemic and presently it has the lowest rate of unemployment – 2.7 percent – in its history. Additionally, she said, “there are more Rhode Islanders working than we have ever had.”

The demand for employees is of concern.

Tanner said Commerce is working with Electric Boat on training programs and with the Rhode Island Bankers Association train tellers as well as with the health sector to recruit students to the field.

Making life easier for businesses is also on Tanner’s agenda. As an example of how the department is listening to the businesses, she cited a $75 license required to operate a slushie machine.  Apparently when introduced, the machines used copper tubing that could interact with food ingredients resulting in illnesses for those consuming the slushies. The licensure has since been dropped as the machines now use PVC tubing.

“We got rid of it,” she said of the license requirement.

As another example, she said handrails according to the state’s fire code must be two inches from the wall. She said two inches was selected so that a firefighter wearing protective gloves could use the rail.  However, she said the distance posed a risk to getting their arms stuck in the rail.  Commerce checked to see what the national building code recommended, which was one and three quarters inch. Commerce went with the national code.

Tanner said the department has a “digital ID” for businesses so they don’t have to multiple forms while filing with various state departments. And she said “there are more resources out there (for businesses).”

Tanner assumed her job in June after Stephan Pryor stepped aside to run for state Treasurer.

Prior to her appointment by Gov. Dan McKee, Tanner, who is an attorney, served as Director of the Department of Business Regulation (DBR) since 2017. In that role, she led the state’s third-largest agency revenue source in regulating financial services, the Fire Marshal’s Office and State Building Office, commercial licensing, gaming, cannabis and liquor while balancing a $25 million budget and over 160 employees.

According to a release announcing her appointment her efforts in the business community helped generate several small business omnibus bills to make it easier to do business in Rhode Island. Before joining DBR, Tanner was the Executive Vice President of Client Services at Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, where she provided small businesses with counseling, resources and incentive products to enhance a customer-centric government.

Tanner graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. She earned her Juris Doctor from Western New England University School of Law, and an Executive Education Certificate in Strategic Management of Regulatory and Enforcement Agencies from Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Tanner called the Blue Economy Rhode Island’s future.

She said of a dozen international companies looking at Rhode Island, four are companies related to offshore wind farms.

She didn’t elaborate, however, in an exchange of follow up texts and emails a Commerce spokesperson defined the Blue Economy as comprised as all economic activity relating to oceans, seas and coasts, from fishing to renewable marine energy to coastal tourism.

In addition, information provided said that according to the University of Rhode Island Research Foundation, this “super-sector” grew twice as fast as the statewide economy at large from 2010-2019, and currently supports roughly $5 billion in annual economic output and employs roughly 10 percent of the state’s workforce.

The state is home to America’s first (and, as of today, still only) operational offshore wind farm. And the state is currently going through the procurement process for up to 1,000 additional megawatts of newly developed offshore wind capacity. Also cited is the state’s ports and infrastructure. Rhode Island is home to three active deepwater ports – and the state just announced a $35 million commitment to build the South Quay Marine Terminal in East Providence. When completed, this terminal will be a staging area for wind turbines and serve as a central hub for the Northeast’s offshore wind sector.

Recent investments listed include a $1 million federal award to begin the design planning for the construction of the RI Blue Technology Innovation Center at the URI bay campus; the Community College of Rhode Island in collaboration with the building trades union announced plans to the state’s first-ever training program for workers seeking construction jobs in the offshore wind industry and the North Kingstown Chamber $375,000 grant for a new high school offshore wind certification program.