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R.I. Commerce Corp. to hire firm to tally impact of tourism and destination grant program

Corrected at 11:43 a.m. on July 30

By

Christopher Allen

-

07/29/2025

2nd_Place_Tandem_for_SCTC_230156ea-d56f-492c-8dc4-a981171ef8ca — R.I. COMMERCE Corp.'s board of directors plans to hire an outside firm to conduct an impact assessment on the agency’s tourism attraction and destination grant program. Pictured is work from the Atlantis Rising International Sand Sculpture Competition, which brought close to 30,000 attendees to South County last June. /COURTESY SOUTH COUNTY TOURISM COUNCIL

PROVIDENCE – R.I. Commerce Corp.’s board of directors plans to hire an outside firm to conduct an impact assessment on the agency’s tourism attraction and destination grant program. A contract approval recommendation will go before the board of directors during its next meeting, which has yet to be scheduled. According to the Request for Proposals,

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PROVIDENCE – R.I. Commerce Corp.'s board of directors plans to hire an outside firm to conduct an impact assessment on the agency’s tourism attraction and destination grant program. A contract approval recommendation will go before the board of directors during its next meeting, which has yet to be scheduled. According to the Request for Proposals, firms have to provide a budget plan not exceeding $100,000 and complete the assessment by Oct. 15. The firm conducting the assessment will have access to the the basic data but will be charged with providing deeper analysis. The assessment must include data on direct visitor spending, including “geographic heat maps,” domestic versus international expenditures, impacts on local business revenue, employment, and a benchmark analysis comparing Rhode Island against initiatives in other New England states as well as national averages, among other requirements. In 2021, Commerce earmarked a $3.4 million from a $10.7 million grant it got from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to support outdoor and public space capital improvements and special events. Over two rounds in 2023 and 2024, R.I. Commerce provided funds to several organizations working in the hospitality and tourism sector to hold special events. Examples include $200,000 to the Newport Artists Collective to support the development of a Newport Gallery Night and Annual Newport Art Show. And the Providence Performing Arts Center, which received $100,000 to support the return of the production Hamilton in 2024. South County also received a separate $200,000 grant to support the Atlantis Rising International Sand Sculpture Competition, which brought close to 30,000 attendees in June, said Bishop. “That is going to be something that makes money and pays for itself,” she said. “It’s to improve South County. We have been moving in a direction where we are able to sustain these events.” (CORRECTION: Corrects date of next Commerce board meeting is still yet to be determined. Updates through out.) Christopher Allen is a staff writer for PBN. He can be reached at Allen@PBN.com.