Rhode Island Rebounds is an initiative by the State to invest in its children, families, workers, housing and small business owners through utilization of the American Rescue Plan State Fiscal Recovery Funds. This investment includes funds to assist small businesses as well as hard-hit tourism, hospitality and event industries impacted by COVID-19. Rhode Island Rebounds is made possible thanks to Governor Dan McKee’s proposal and unanimous approval by the Rhode Island House and Senate.
The RI Rebounds Energy Efficiency Program is a statewide effort to assist small businesses reduce their energy costs by implementing measures that improve energy efficiency. This program will reimburse small businesses up to $10,000 for energy efficiency measures implemented as the result of an energy efficiency audit.
The RI Rebounds Small Business Grant Program provides direct financial assistance to our state’s small businesses that have suffered financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants are available for either $2,500 or $5,000. The application period closed on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 3:30 p.m.
The Rhode Island Take It Outside Initiative provides approximately $4.5 million in total awards in a state-wide effort to encourage and increase outdoor activities in an effort to reduce the transmission rate of COVID-19 and support small businesses recovery.
The Placemaking Initiative will provide approximately $3 million in subawards to assist the tourism and hospitality (including events) industries in support of outdoor and public space capital improvements and/or event programming, with grants supporting both larger programs (amounting to approximately $200,000), as well as smaller programs (amounting to $75,000 or less). This Placemaking Initiative will focus on developing safe place-based event programming; ensuring existing attractions are more COVID-safe; and improving public spaces.
The Rhode Island Rebounds Ventilation Program is a statewide effort to improve indoor air quality in an effort to reduce the transmission rate of COVID-19 and support small businesses recovery.
The RI Rebounds Technical Assistance Program is designed to support small businesses that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This program is funded through Rhode Island’s allocation of the State Fiscal Recovery Fund and managed by Rhode Island Commerce.
