R.I. Commerce awards $16M in grants to small businesses, nonprofits

PROVIDENCE – The state on Wednesday awarded $16.1 million in funding to small businesses and nonprofits across three COVID-19-related grant programs.

The funding announced by R.I. Commerce Corp. comes through previously allocated CARES Act funding already designated in existing grant programs. The largest chunk of funding, $12.7 million, was distributed through the HArT relief program designed for hospitality, arts and tourism organizations, including $8 million in “direct support grants” to 40 organizations and $4.7 million to 62 recipients for “Engagement, Service, and Resiliency activities” that spur economic activity or create safe gatherings and tourism-friendly opportunities. Combined with $1.4 million awarded through a first-round distribution, the $20 million program has provided $14.1 million to 95 organizations total.

Another $1.8 million in grants was also awarded to 68 small businesses via a second round of the Business Adaptation Grant program, which offers up to $50,000 for companies “dramatically constrained and significantly impacted” by the pandemic. Combined with the $1.4 million already distributed under a first grant round, the program has doled out $3.2 million to 99 businesses.

Finally, 123 businesses have received a combined $1.6 million in laptops, software and technical assistance through the Remote Work program. The in-kind technology grants, distributed via Social Enterprise Greenhouse and District Hall Providence, helps businesses with two to 100 employees transition to remote work. The $5 million program will stop accepting applications on Dec. 18. 

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Newly awarded grants are in addition to the Restore Rhode Island grant program and Take it Outside Initiative, which distributed more than $42 million and $7.2 million respectively as of Wednesday.