State boosts industry clusters

The Highlander Institute spent two years researching an idea for an education-innovation cluster that would develop links between Rhode Island educators, nonprofits, education-technology companies and university researchers.

“It was something we were doing as a social good, a community investment, without funding,” said Executive Director Dana Borrelli-Murray.

The project moved a step closer to reality earlier this month when the nonprofit won a $149,750 grant to measure the cluster’s economic implications, one of seven projects recognized in the state’s inaugural Industry Cluster Grant initiative.

“If it weren’t for this $150,000 we would still be convening around this subject without any deliverables attached,” she said.

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A joint venture between Gov. Gina M. Raimondo’s office and R.I. Commerce Corp.’s board of directors, the Industry Cluster Grants awarded a total of $748,640.

Raimondo believes the grants can reinvigorate Rhode Island’s economy.

“[They] will make it easier for industries with some of the highest potential for growth to come together to collaborate, innovate and overcome barriers to success,” she said.

Initially, Highlander applied for $250,000, the most allowed for a technical-assistance grant; however, the state asked it to lower its request.

“If the state had kept with people’s original asks they would only have been able to award a handful of grants,” said Borrelli-Murray.

Indeed, interest in the program far exceeded the $750,000 available. Commerce received requests from 26 organizations totaling more than $5.7 million.

The 12-month funding was available in two categories: technical assistance of $75,000 to $250,000, and implementation grants of $100,000 to $500,000 to launch a well-defined project. Five organizations received technical assistance and two received implementation grants.

But in order to fund new projects or help Highlander and other grant recipients continue developing their proposals, state lawmakers will have to approve additional funding. Raimondo has earmarked $1.25 million in her proposed fiscal 2017 budget to do just that.

Providence-based Highlander hopes to qualify for additional state funding, but Borrelli-Murray doesn’t think the project will be dependent on it. That’s because she hopes to use the newly awarded grant to leverage outside funds.

DesignxRI won a $100,000 technical-assistance grant to market Rhode Island designers to other local businesses. Lisa Carnevale, executive director of the Providence-based organization, was excited by the prospect of state funding, but was unaware implementation grants were also available.

“The way we looked at it was $100,000 would help us scratch the surface and launch. … That implementation funding would be really useful,” down the road, she said. •

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