Small Business Resiliency

• Business Preparedness

  The speed of your business’s recovery after a disaster depends on the steps you take today. Prepare for unique challenges to stay resilient and get back to business quickly.

  RIEMA Business Preparedness Resources

  • Build a Disaster Supply Kit

    Be prepared with essential items your business may need during an emergency. A ready-to-go kit ensures you’re not scrambling for supplies during power outages or shelter-in-place situations.

    RIEMA Business Disaster Supply Kit

  • Create a Crisis Communication Plan

    Ensure clear, timely communication during and after a disaster by planning how your business will connect with employees, customers, suppliers, and local authorities. A strong plan keeps everyone informed and your operations moving forward.

    RIMEA Business Crisis Communication Plan

  • Business Continuity Planning

    Safeguard your business with a solid Business Continuity Plan—identify risks, key operations, and partners to stay up and running through any disruption. Get started with the 12 Steps to Business Continuity Guide today.

    12 Steps to Business Continuity

• SBA Disaster Guidance — Prepare, Recover, Thrive

  Get ready with SBA’s step-by-step guidance to assess your risks, create a tailored emergency plan, and practice it with your team to stay operational through any disaster.

  SBA: Prepare for Emergencies

• Ready Business: Plan, Prepare, Stay Resilient

  Ready.gov’s Ready Business program helps you identify risks, build a plan, and take action to protect your operations from disasters. Access free toolkits, checklists, and planning guides to keep your business prepared and resilient.

  Ready Business

• Preparing for a disaster (taxpayers and businesses)

  Planning what to do in case of a disaster is an important part of being prepared. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) encourages taxpayers to safeguard their records. Some simple steps can help taxpayers and businesses protect financial and tax records in case of disasters. These are tips for individuals and businesses on preparing for a disaster.

  Preparing for a Disaster (taxpayers and businesses)

• Enhance Your Resilience with a Proven Readiness Framework

  Use the comprehensive Business Preparedness Checklist to assess your organization’s ability to survive and thrive through disasters. This free, self‑assessment tool—part of the “Resilience in a Box” program—guides you in evaluating critical areas like employee safety, supply chains, IT continuity, emergency contacts, and backup facilities.

  U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation: Business Preparedness Checklist

• Stay Ahead of Inland Flooding Risks

  Understand your business’s flood exposure and develop a tailored preparedness and mitigation plan—covering staff, property, systems, structure, and surrounding land—to reduce potential loss and ensure continuity.

  Ready.gov Inland Flooding Toolkit (PDF)

• Prepare Your Business for Power Outages

  Power outages can disrupt operations and impact your bottom line. The Power Outage Toolkit offers a step-by-step guide to help businesses assess risks, develop preparedness plans, and take proactive measures to ensure continuity during power disruptions.

  Ready.gov Power Outage Toolkit (PDF)

• Prepare Your Business for Severe Winds and Tornadoes

  Prepare your business for severe winds and tornadoes with this toolkit—a clear, step-by-step guide to assess risks, create plans, and take action to ensure continuity and readiness.

  Ready.gov Severe Wind / Tornado Toolkit (PDF)

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Climate Change Preparedness Toolkit For Business Development Organizations

  This guide is intended to support small business owners in both developing a business continuity plan, as well as creating a culture that allows for innovations and transformations. Recognizing that business owners have a lot to consider in their daily operations, the guide has been organized to be accessible and concise.

  Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Preparedness Toolkit

• Assess Your Flood Risk with MyCoast Business Flood Visualizer

  Rhode Island business owners can easily evaluate flood risks using this interactive tool that combines real-time weather, tides, and community photos. Stay informed and make smarter decisions to protect your property and keep your business resilient against flooding.

  MyCoast Business Flood Visualizer

• Explore STORMTOOLS: Rhode Island’s Coastal Flood Mapping Tool

  STORMTOOLS offers detailed, interactive maps to help you understand current and future coastal flood risks, including sea level rise and storm scenarios. Use this easy-to-navigate platform to assess your property’s vulnerability, support planning decisions, and stay prepared for changing conditions.

  STORMTOOLS (flood modeling)

• MyCoast Rhode Island: Snap the Shore, Track the Change

  MyCoast is a powerful portal that collects and analyzes shoreline photos across Rhode Island, capturing today’s flood impacts and highlighting future risks. By linking images with weather and tide data, it provides valuable insights to help government agencies, businesses, and residents make informed decisions to protect our coastlines.

  MyCoast Rhode Island 

• Report Damage to RIEMA

  If your business has sustained damage from severe weather in Rhode Island, it's crucial to report it promptly to the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA). This helps the state assess the extent of the damage and determine eligibility for federal assistance.

  How to Report:

  • Online: Visit riema.ri.gov and navigate to the "Planning & Mitigation" section.
  • Fax or Email: Complete the Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) form and send it to RIEMA at 401-944-1891 or email lawrence.macedo@ema.ri.gov.

  Report Damage to RIEMA 

• SBA Business Physical Disaster Loans

  The Small Business Administration (SBA) makes physical disaster loans of up to $2 million to qualified businesses and most non-profit organizations. These loans can be used to repair or replace items damaged or destroyed during a declared disaster.

  SBA: Business Recovery 

• Connect with Rhode Island Emergency & State Agencies

  Get quick access to key state contacts to support your business during emergencies.

  Rhode Island State Contacts 

• Pivot your business/ updating your plan

  The SBDC network is the largest SBA-funded Resource Partner and provides one-on-one business advising at no cost to entrepreneurs. SBDC-certified advisers will walk you through your options so you can confidently make tough decisions about the future of your business.

  SBDC Resources 

• SCORE: Support for Disaster-Affected Businesses

  SCORE Small Business Resilience Training can give you the tools to adapt, reopen, and grow successfully through any disaster

  SCORE: Support for Disaster-Affected Businesses

• Small Business Readiness for Resiliency (R4R) Grant Program

  The R4R program is designed specifically for small businesses with 500 or fewer employees. It guides businesses through a three-step process to enhance their preparedness and, if eligible, provides grants when a state emergency order or state disaster declaration is made in their county. Get started today!

  Small Business Readiness for Resiliency Program 

• Getting Started

  Schedule a no-cost energy assessment, and we will help you determine which energy-saving solutions are best for your business. Call us at 1-877-784-3709 or email energyefficiency@RIEnergy.com.

  RI Energy Small Business Program 

• Go Solar Providence

  Visit Go Solar Providence for tools, installer lists, and everything you need to begin your clean energy journey.

  Go Solar Providence 

• Community Solar in Rhode Island

  Renters, homeowners, and businesses can subscribe to local solar farms—no rooftop panels needed—and save 5–10% on electricity bills. Visit the RI Community Solar Marketplace to explore available projects and start saving.

  Community Solar 

• The Rhode Island Commerce Renewable Energy Fund (REF)

  The Renewable Energy Fund (REF) offers Rhode Island businesses grants up to $75,000 to help lower the cost of commercial-scale solar and renewable energy installations. Combine REF funding with state net-metering and the 30% federal tax credit to maximize savings and speed up your return on investment.

  RI Renewable Energy Fund (REF) 

• Energy Incentives in Rhode Island

  Rhode Island offers a wide range of state and federal incentives for renewable energy and efficiency projects tailored to homeowners, businesses, farms, municipalities, and nonprofits.

  RI Energy Incentives 

• Rhode Island Green Certification Programs for Businesses

  The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) offers voluntary Green Certification Programs to help businesses across various industries enhance sustainability and reduce environmental impact. These programs provide recognition for implementing practices that minimize pollution, conserve resources, and promote environmental stewardship.

  RI Green Certification Programs

• City of Providence Sustainability Office (SustainPVD)

  Empower your business with Providence’s sustainability programs—cut costs, boost efficiency, and lead in clean energy innovation.

  Providence Sustainability Office 

  • Providence Community Electricity

    The Providence Community Electricity program offers local businesses competitively priced electricity options, including 100% renewable energy plans sourced from Rhode Island-based wind and solar projects. Participating businesses can reduce their carbon footprint, potentially lower energy costs, and support the growth of clean energy in the region.

    Providence Community Electricity 

• The City of Newport's Resilience and Sustainability Office

  Strengthen your Newport business with resilience planning and sustainability resources to protect your operations and boost long-term success.

  Newport Resilience 

• Food Waste Ban in RI

  Rhode Island has a food waste ban that requires certain businesses and institutions to divert organic waste from landfills if they generate more than two tons of it per week and are located within 15 miles of an authorized composting or anaerobic digestion facility. This law, part of the state's Refuse Disposal Law, aims to extend the life of the state's landfill and promote a greener economy. The ban initially took effect in January 2016 and has been expanded since then.

  Food Waste Ban in RI 

• Act on Climate

  Rhode Island’s comprehensive climate action plan focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting clean energy, and building resilience statewide. It provides strategies and resources for communities, businesses, and individuals to achieve a sustainable, carbon-neutral future by 2050.

  Act on Climate 

Clean Energy Internship Program

Connect your business with talented college students and recent grads through Rhode Island’s paid 12-week Clean Energy Internship Program. Hosted by RI Commerce and the Office of Energy Resources, this program offers hands-on experience in solar, energy efficiency, engineering, and policy, while providing stipend reimbursement to employers.

Clean Energy Internship Program