Rhode Island

The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation wants to hire a PR firm and/or ad agency to bolster its effort to attract business investment to the state.

The Ocean State is in the midst of a push to reimagine its brand with an eye on projecting a more favorable image to the world, according to the RFP.

Under the leadership of “jobs-focused” Governor Dan McKee, the former lieutenant governor who took office after Gina Raimondo resigned to become Joe Biden's secretary of commerce, Rhode Island is determined to be known as an “attractive place in the Northeast to live, grow a business, and visit as a tourist or business traveler.”

Rhode Island’s business attraction push targets biomedical innovation; IT/software, cyber-physical systems & data analytics; “blue economy” (defense, shipbuilding, maritime and offshore wind); design, food and custom manufacturing; arts, education, hospitality & tourism; and transportation, distribution & logistics.

The Commerce Corp. is looking for a partner to “execute media relations initiatives, including strategic planning, creative story development, unique partnership opportunities, traditional and new school media relations activities based on client feedback and priorities, activating media events and programs, content creation and distribution, social media strategy and other functions, as needed.”

The selected firm will have experience in running economic development campaigns and solid relationships with beat reporters in appropriate sector-based publications.

Rhode Island plans to issue a one-year contract with options for another three years.

Proposals are due Jan. 21. Send an electronic (PDF) version on thumb drive or disk and eight hard copies to

Rhode Island Commerce Corporation
Attention: Business Attraction Public Relations & Advertising Agency RFP
315 Iron Horse Way, Suite 101
Providence, RI 02908 

Read the RFP (PDF).