The Jamestown Regular Council Meeting held on December 2, 2024, featured a significant presentation by the president and CEO of the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce, who outlined the chamber's role in regional economic development and its initiatives aimed at supporting local businesses.

The chamber, which has been operational for over a century, represents approximately 1,000 members across Newport County, including Jamestown. The CEO emphasized the chamber's commitment to fostering small business growth through various professional development events and networking opportunities. Notably, the chamber also advocates for local businesses by collaborating with municipal leaders and state officials on policy initiatives.

A key highlight of the meeting was the discussion of the chamber's economic development division, established in 2019, which aims to enhance collaboration among the nine coastal communities in the region. This division has successfully raised over $1 million in grants to support various initiatives, including a soft landing program for businesses looking to relocate to Rhode Island and a land use planning grant from the Department of Defense to assist Naval Station Newport.

The CEO also addressed the pressing issue of workforce housing, revealing that the region will need between 6,000 to 9,000 new housing units over the next decade to accommodate workforce demands. This concern is compounded by an aging demographic and the need to attract and retain skilled workers.

In addition to economic development, the chamber is involved in addressing infrastructure challenges, particularly in broadband access, which has been identified as a critical need for the region. The chamber has initiated studies to support improvements in this area and is working to secure additional funding for municipalities.

The meeting concluded with a call for greater engagement from the Jamestown Town Council in the chamber's initiatives, highlighting the potential benefits of collaboration for the town's economic growth and development. The council expressed interest in exploring partnership opportunities, particularly in grant writing and economic analysis, to better support local businesses.