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N F. W P O R I C () L \ T V C: H A M B E R o/ CO M M K R C E 



To aHiaucr Ihi ,iv,c an,/ rronomir -^ilulin of .Xrm'parr Cunn 



TESTIHOHY ON REGIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN LEVERAGING 



OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH FOR DEFENSE AND NON-DEFENSE 



INDUSTRIES AND ACTIVITIES, JANUARY 22, 1996 



My name is Keith W. Stokes and I am the Executive 

 Director of the Newport County Chamber of Commerce located in 

 Newport, Rhode Island. Please accept my testimony on behalf 

 of the Board of Directors and the nearly 1000 members of the 

 Chamber. First let me begin by welcoming you to Newport. I 

 can think of no better place to have a hearing on the 

 economic opportunities of employing ocean technolog^i' than 

 here in the "Ocean State." 



The Newport County Chamber has embarked upon a major 

 reigional economic development effort that has provided the 

 catalyst to attract new business investments, assist those 

 existing businesses to grow and prosper, enhance the local 

 tax base, and maximize the competitive business advantages of 

 1 iving within a state that boasts over 300 miles of 

 coastline. This last point is of particular consequence to 

 my testimony before this joint field hearing. 



The economy of Newport County and much of soutnern New 

 England is largely based upon marine-related tourism, defense 

 and defense-related technology industries. Blessed with deep 



■)i Vallry R„ad ■ NeKport. Rl 03S42-6377 vr- j:'' 



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