ADVOCACY & INITIATIVES

ADVOCACY & INITIATIVES

RIMTA TAKES SEVERAL APPROACHES TO REACH OUR MISSION.

ADVOCACY
INITIATIVES

HOW WE ADVOCATE

Like all PACs, the RIMTA PAC can only be supported by contributions from individuals.

the rimta political
action
commitee

To complement the activities of RIMTA’a Legislative Committee, RIMTA has its own political action committee. PACs support legislators and legislation that are in alignment with their parent organization’s positions. When RIMTA members have an issue with pending or existing legislation, they can channel their concerns through RIMTA. We represent a block of over 1700 companies working in Rhode Island’s marine-trades sector, tallying over 13,300 jobs and $2.65 billion in gross sales. When RIMTA speaks, policymakers listen. Being able to tap into these advocacy efforts is one of the greatest benefits of RIMTA membership.

No sales tax on boats in Rhode Island is considered RIMTA’s signature legislative achievement. Although that regulation was put on the books over 20 years ago, RIMTA’s Legislative Committee and the lobbying firm it works with have an ongoing job: to monitor pending legislation that can impact the Rhode Island marine trades, and to keep lawmakers educated about our industry and its impact on the state’s economy so favorable legislation stays in place.

WHAT RIMTA
MEMBERS CAN DO

Doing advocacy work on the part of the Rhode Island marine trades requires the cooperation of all members. Your RIMTA dues supports the lobbying firm we work with, so paying your dues is an important part of our ability to advocate on your behalf. Members’ participation in any surveys RIMTA does is critical: this data enables our Legislative Committee to educate lawmakers with the latest stats.

 

SUPPORT THE RIMTA PAC

SUPPORT THE RIMTA PAC

Your contribution will:

  • Keep sales tax off of boats and services.

  • Educate lawmakers about the marine industry.

  • Stay abreast of new legislation and regulations that can impact marine-trades businesses

  • Continue to position RIMTA as a regional and national innovation leader in workforce development and manufacturing.

support online:

Support

or by mail:

Personal checks can made payable to RIMTA PAC and sent to:

RIMTA

513 Broadway, Suite 320

Newport, RI 02840

INITIATIVES

Through a variety of programs, RIMTA WORKS TOWARDS OUR MISSION.

INDUSTRY DATA

INDUSTRY DATA

Gathering statistics about the Rhode Island marine trades is an important role RIMTA plays for the industry.

These studies are a critical piece of the organization’s advocacy work. RIMTA’s Legislative Committee and the lobbying firm it works with use this data to educate lawmakers about the R.I. marine industry and its impact on the state economy.

 

Results of RIMTA’s most recent economic-impact study, conducted with members of the University of Rhode Island faculty, were released in fall 2018. This study estimates jobs, gross sales, and economic impacts of the R.I. marine trades. The study also breaks down this R.I. industry into subsectors, so we know how heavily we are weighted in different areas of the marine trades.

 

By the numbers, the Rhode Island marine industry is comprised of 1,712 firms that generate $2.649 billion in annual gross sales and employ 13,337 people. Put into context, our statewide marine-trades sector makes up about 4.7% of the firms in the Rhode Island economy.

 

Read the Marine Trades Report

RIMTA worked with members of the University of Rhode Island faculty to produce an Economic Impact Study on Rhode Island’s marine-trades sector. The results of the study were released in fall 2018. Learn more in the FAQs below and find a link to a report on the study.

 

WHAT MAKES THIS STUDY SIGNIFICANT?

A major part of what RIMTA does for its members and the state’s marine trades is advocate for our business sector. No sales tax on boats in Rhode Island is a signature legislative achievement that RIMTA worked toward over 20 years ago, but keeping policymakers informed about the marine trades is an ongoing effort. RIMTA’s Legislative Committee, and the lobbying firm it works with, monitors pending legislation and educates lawmakers about our industry so favorable legislation stays in place.

This study estimates jobs, gross sales, and economic impacts of the R.I. marine trades — making the resultant data a critical building block of our advocacy work. The study also breaks down our R.I. industry into subsectors, so we know how heavily we are weighted in different areas of the marine trades.

 

HOW DO YOU DEFINE THE R.I. MARINE TRADES? HOW LARGE IS THE SECTOR IN THE STATE?

By the numbers, the Rhode Island marine industry is comprised of 1,712 firms that generate $2.649 billion in annual gross sales and employ 13,337 people. Put into context, our statewide marine-trades sector makes up about 4.7% of the firms in the Rhode Island economy to demonstrate how significant a part of our state’s economy our industry is. This sector includes firms in the areas of boat building and repair, retail boat and equipment sales, marinas, marine construction, manufacturing and supply, diving and salvage, charter and cruise services, and even professional service firms.

 

WHICH BUSINESS CATEGORY MAKES UP THE LARGEST SUBSECTOR?

Marine Services & Supply is the largest subsector, with 431 firms generating $583.6 million in gross sales annually and 2,757 jobs. The second largest is Marinas, Docks & Yacht Clubs, comprised of 269 firms and generating 2,743 jobs and annual gross sales of $367.43 million. Third is Charter and Cruise Services, with 306 firms generating $336.24 million per year and 1,965 jobs. This report on the study has a complete breakdown on all subsectors in the R.I. marine trades, with information on the number of firms in each subsector, number of jobs, and other data.

 

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE KEY DATA POINTS?

The Rhode Island marine industry is comprised of 1,712 firms that generate $2.649 billion in annual gross sales and employ 13,337 people. The statewide marine-trades sector makes up about 4.7% of the firms in the Rhode Island economy.

The firms in our sector are generally smaller than the average in the economy as a whole, but these marine businesses operate with larger labor income per firm. This is based on a combination of higher wages and higher profitability, on average, in the marine trades despite fewer employees per firm. Since the marine trades compete for skilled talent with so many other business sectors in our country’s current low-unemployment situation, this is an important data point.

 

WHO DID RIMTA PARTNER WITH TO CONDUCT THIS STUDY?

To conduct this study, RIMTA partnered with University of Rhode Island Associate Professor Dr. Thomas Sproul and PhD Student Clayton Michaud. RIMTA’s working relationship with the University of Rhode Island continues to prove invaluable in our efforts to promote and strengthen the R.I. marine trades. The economic impact study was made possible with support from a U.S. Economic Development Administration Planning Grant.

Marine Guide To Growing Workforce

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS

The business of boating depends on a healthy ocean. RIMTA has created programs and partnered with leading environmental organizations to give marine businesses clear guidelines on steps they can take to run a more sustainable operation.

RIMTA was among the first in the country to begin a collection program to recycle shrink wrap used by marinas and boat yards.

 

Historically shrink wrap has been sent to landfills once it has been removed from a boat.  RIMTA’s partnership with a regional material hauler/recycling firm provides an environmentally viable and economically practical option for the collection, processing and repurposing of the discarded shrink-wrap from our members across Rhode Island.

 

RIMTA members are able to participate in the program by purchasing ‘shrink wrap bags’ to collect their shrink wrap material.  Each bag can hold up to  40 lbs of shrink wrap material and will be picked up from your facility at no additional cost.

 

In 2018 and 2019, this industry wide effort diverted almost 70,000 pounds of discarded shrink wrap away from landfills.

 

Are you a boatyard or marina interested in participating in the shrink wrap program?

 

Do you need to order shrink wrap bags?

 

Do you need to schedule a pick-up of your shrink wrap bags?

 

Please contact Jen Huber (401-396-9619)

The Clean Marina Program is a voluntary initiative designed to reward marinas that go beyond regulatory requirements by applying innovative best management practices for pollution prevention to their regular operations. RIMTA collaborated with the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), industry representatives, the University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center (CRC), and Rhode Island Sea Grant on the first program overhaul since 2006 .

Since the 2006 update, five marinas have undertaken  the program, which provides education and the support of a cohort to participants who learn basic science concerning coastal environments, engage with experts who lead discussion and dialogue about pollution issues specific to the marina industry, and share the information with their own members and stakeholders. While the focus of the program is clean marina policy and practice, participating businesses will also have access to information about other key issues, including climate change and resilience building.

Every year in the U.S. an increasing number of recreational fiberglass boats reach their end of life without a sustainable option for disposal. Some will be crushed and buried in landfills, where they will persist for many years, while others may be abandoned by their owners on land or in coastal areas where they can potentially harm the marine environment.

 

This is a serious challenge facing boat owners, state governments, and the national marine-trades industry – and the Ocean State has taken the lead in searching for a solution.

 

Launched by Rhode Island Sea Grant and RIMTA, the Rhode Island Fiberglass Vessel Recycling (RIFVR) Pilot Project will explore solutions for the sustainable disposal of fiberglass boats, by dismantling and re-processing of fiberglass hulls into cement as an alternative to landfill.

 

This pilot is a collaboration among local, regional and national partners, who are working toward the material-collection phase of the pilot. If you are a RIMTA member interested in nominating an end-of-life vessel for use in the pilot, please fill out this form.

 

Learn more about the project in this background sheet, this introductory video or contact project manager Evan Ridley (info@rimta.org / 401-396-9619)