'Make It Happen' hopes to boost economy

When people say "Only in Rhode Island," they don't usually mean it in a good way. And that needs to change, according to attendees of a two-day economic development summit organized by the Rhode Island Foundation.

Foundation CEO Neil Steinberg said at Friday's opening of the "Make It Happen RI" forum that the state with the nation's second-highest unemployment rate has a "self-esteem problem."

Leaders in business, nonprofit, academia and other sectors said in a discussion session on better marketing the state that Rhode Island should play to its strengths, including in arts and culture, entrepreneurship and tourism -- as well as leverage its small size.

Other sessions at the forum tackled unemployment, the skills gap and the business environment.