Economic Development Director Matt Wojcik has a new vision for the city's economy and it could be modeled after the arts movement in nearby Pawtucket.

The City of Woonsocket Economic Development department will screen the documentary "Pawtucket Rising" on Thursday, Dec. 16 at 3 p.m. in the second floor conference room at City Hall.  Following the movie the floor will be open to questions and discussion regarding the role the arts can play in economic revitalisation.  Herb Weiss, one of the leading government figures in Pawtucket's arts movement, will attend the screening and help facilitate the conversation.  

"I think it's time we consider the experience of other historic industrial cities, especially our Rhode Island neighbors, in designing an economic development plan that will provide job opportunities and a stronger, more diverse real estate tax base," said Wojcik. "Pawtucket has had success cultivating the creative economy and and generating interest and foot traffic in their city, the movie and Herb can provide insight into how long things took, what tools had to be in place, and what support from the community at large was needed to fuel that success."

Weiss has invited others featured in the movie to attend the discussion as well.  Mayor Fontaine is scheduled to attend a least a portion of the session to signal his support for a solution to large, vacant buildings - which are not only a challenge, but an opportunity as well, according to a statement released from Wojcik's office this week. 

Woonsocket, like Pawtucket, hosts a State of Rhode Island sanctioned Arts District.  Including the entire Main Street area and stretching all the way to the vacant mill complexes on Hamlet Avenue, the Woonsocket Arts District offers working artists significant tax benefits for living and selling their work in the district.  Low rents, city tax incentives, and a welcoming environment are part of what Woonsocket offers to artists and landlords who actively promote the District and the City.

"This is not a theoretical presentation," concluded Wojcik, "Nor is this dreamy. This is a real world solution to present economic challenges that others have been able to pull off.  It will take some work to persuade the community that the arts are part of a winning strategy for a small city such as Woonsocket, but in the end, we have to hope that one of the fastest growing sectors in the economy can find a home here and contribute to Woonsocket's future.