‘Genius’ grants for seafood, cinema

Shellfish and movie theaters.

In a nutshell that sums up this year’s recipients of the Rhode Island Innovation Fellowships, or “genius” grants, but in reality the projects are much more involved.

John Haley, a naturalist and entrepreneur, aims to augment the shellfish industry using an adherent bacteria that attracts mussel seeds.

Duo Daniel Kamil and Emily Steffian, owners of the Cable Car Cinema & Café in Providence, look to create an independent “Providence Cinemateque” to serve as a haven for entertainment, the arts and culture.

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Neil D. Steinberg, CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation, chaired a seven-person panel that selected the two projects – each to receive $300,000 over the next three years – from a pool of 353 applicants.

“We don’t have any prescribed industry that we’re looking for, so it’s wide open,” Steinberg told Providence Business News last week.

The previous three rounds of funding generated nearly 1,000 applicants. Past recipients include Amy Bernhardt (design) and David Dadekian (culinary industry) in 2014 and Adrienne Gagnon (design) and Dr. Lynn Taylor (health care) in 2013.

Soren Ryherd (retail) and Allan Tear (technology) received the inaugural grants in 2012.

The fellowship is the brainchild of Providence philanthropists Letitia and John Carter, who started the efforts with donations guided by a vision to stimulate solutions created by Rhode Islanders for local challenges. •

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