Rhode Island partners with Navy to grow defense businesses

By The Associated Press

news@abc6.com

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) _ The state is partnering with the Navy to grow businesses working on undersea and naval technologies.
        
The Navy said Friday the Naval Undersea Warfare Center will assign an employee for two years to work in the Commerce Rhode Island offices.
        
That person will be charged with helping strengthen the contributions of the defense and ocean technology sectors to the Rhode Island economy.
        
The goal is to offer more business opportunities for startups and small to medium size businesses with capabilities relevant to undersea and naval technologies.            

They’re calling it a joint defense commercialization partnership.
        
The naval center says it’s working to fill the position within the next two months.
        
The center has divisions in Newport, Rhode Island and Keyport, Washington, to engineer, build and support Navy ships and combat systems.

(c) The Associated Press / WLNE-TV 2015