URI’s One-Year MBA Program educates entrepreneurs and leaders to be vanguards of change in today’s global economy. It is no secret that Rhode Island has had some challenges: in 2015, unemployment was New England’s highest, and Forbes magazine labeled Rhode Island the 5th worst state to conduct business. Now, as part of a 2016 Capstone Innovation Project, a team of MBA students and faculty are trying to reverse these troubling stats.

With the help of a website the students developed—www.HelpMyRI.com—the project seeks to redevelop certain public assets to make publicly accessibly data more useful for businesses, analysts, and government officials. This data would allow entrepreneurs to analyze and pinpoint the most promising location to launch their businesses. In addition, existing businesses could be supplied with the data required to expand.

They need your help. The team is seeking entrepreneurs and C-level executives to complete the one-minute, simple-to-use survey—in English or Spanish—to identify and prioritize the data set needs of both new and existing businesses that are seeking to establish roots and grow in Rhode Island. They invite you to contribute to this important study and to join them in helping to advance Rhode Island’s economic growth.

Read more about the project and how to participate in Providence Business News.