Situated between the Big Apple and Boston, Rhode Island offers the best of all worlds. The state by the sea offers a blend of small-town charm, coastal lifestyle and nearby cosmopolitan amenities.

The superb quality of life is certainly one factor drawing a host of companies to the small state in the Northeast.

Internet start-up companies and other dot.coms are finding that the Ocean State offers plenty of reasons for setting up more than just surf shops there.

Orbidex.com is one of the most recent Internet start-ups expanding operations in Rhode Island. The company was located in New Jersey, Massachusetts and Providence, R.I., but is now consolidating operations in a new headquarters facility in Providence.

Orbidex.com, an Internet service company for the art, antiques and other fine objects community, was drawn to Providence by affordable real estate, qualified workers, advanced broadband infrastructure, state tax advantages and training incentives from the state.

"We are very excited about the breadth and quality of business resources available in Providence, and pleased at the level of support provided by the state of Rhode Island," said Bruce Eissner, chief executive officer of Orbidex.com.

Ready to go

For companies looking to get up and running quickly, Rhode Island is the right place. The Centre of New England, a mixed-use retail and industrial center, is located in Coventry, near Warwick, R.I.

The industrial side consists of 3.5 million square feet, with space for distribution, R&D, manufacturing and office space.

There are also a number of incentives for companies locating in the park.

The site also has two interchanges along Interstate 95, and the location is only 15 minutes from Providence and 45 minutes from Boston. There are already several tenants at the park, including Airborne Express, Champion Window and Door Co. and Hertz Equipment Rental.

Big business in a small state

In Warwick, Beacon Mutual Insurance Co., which is the state's largest workers' compensation insurer, broke ground for a new headquarters.

The new office will be home to the company's 140 employees, who ran out of space in their current West Warwick location.

The project is scheduled for completion in October. The company anticipates hiring 10 to 15 people over the next several months to accommodate its growth.

— Rachael Hedgcoth