Take It Outside Grant | Small Business Recovery Program

The Rhode Island Rebounds Take It Outside program is a statewide effort to encourage and increase outdoor activities in an effort to reduce the transmission rate of COVID-19 and support small businesses recovery.

The Take It Outside program awarded approximately $4.8 million to 21 eligible proposers to allow them to create, design, and offer programs/activities that increase outdoor capacity of small businesses. Awarded funds can be used to cover the cost of purchasing, obtaining, delivering, or installing chairs, tables, heat lamps, bike racks, other costs for purchasing or obtaining goods or services that are deemed necessary to increase outdoor opportunities for impacted small businesses.

Rhode Island based businesses that are interested in participating in the Take It Outside program must meet a number of requirements including:

  • Have less than $1 million in annual gross revenues
  • Demonstrate a negative economic impact from the COVID-19 pandemic

At least twenty percent of all funds awarded to small businesses will be reserved for awards to assist minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises.

The project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRFP0136 (State Fiscal Recovery Funds) awarded to the State of Rhode Island by the U.S. Department of Treasury.

 

If you are a small business interested in participating in this program, please either:

  • Reach out directly to one of the selected intermediaries listed below or
  • Contact the RI Commerce Small Business Assistance Team at RISmallBiz@CommerceRI.com
Intermediaries list

The intermediaries include:

Center for Southeast Asians (Providence, RI)

To support businesses (member and nonmember) by providing items to increase outdoor operational capacities and accommodate public health measures adopted in response to COVID-19. For more information, please contact Lisa DaPonte at lisa.daponte@cseari.org.

Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce (Warwick, RI)

To purchase goods to support outdoor activities for the small businesses in the Central Rhode Island area. Contact information forthcoming.

City of Cranston (Cranston, RI)

To support small businesses within Cranston to attract shoppers and restaurant goers. For more information, please contact Franklin J. Paulino, Director of Economic Development at 401-780-3166; Fpaulino@cranstonri.org.

City of East Providence (East Providence, RI)

To disburse funding to small businesses for eligible outdoor accommodations, increasing foot traffic to business corridors and retaining small businesses. For more information, please contact Victor Regino at Vregino@Eastprovidenceri.gov.

City of Pawtucket (Pawtucket, RI)

To support small businesses with Take It Outside-related supplies. For more information, please contact Anthony Hebert, Senior Planner; ahebert@pawtucketri.com.

East Greenwich Chamber of Commerce (East Greenwich, RI)

To host a series of artist markets that will directly support eligible small businesses as well as to purchase igloos for eligible small businesses. For more information, please contact Steve Lombardi, Steve@eastgreenwichchamber.com.

Federal Hill Commerce Association (Providence, RI)

To continue and increase the resources needed to execute Al Fresco on the Hill. These items include insurance, staffing and security, tables/chairs, signage, and more. Contact information forthcoming.

NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley (Woonsocket, RI)

To purchase equipment such as folding chairs, pop-up tents, portable speakers, signage, a mobile stage, etc. to distribute to small businesses and to run a series of diverse, free, live music to include extensive food offerings, a vendor fair, cultural activities, youth activities, and other opportunities to engage small businesses. For more information, please contact Meg Rego at 401-762-0993, mrego@nwbrv.org.

North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce (North Kingstown, RI)

To support small businesses by providing items to increase outdoor operational capacities and accommodate public health measures. For more information, please contact info@northkingstown.com or 401.295.5566.

Northern RI Chamber of Commerce (Lincoln, RI)

To assist small businesses in purchasing necessary items to expand outdoor dining and activities in thirteen communities across Northern Rhode Island. Contact information forthcoming.

Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce (Westerly)

To support small businesses in Westerly in the creation of a “Starry Lights” outdoor holiday light display. For more information, please contact Lisa Konicki, President, 401-596-7761; lkonicki@oceanchamber.org.

Providence Downtown Improvement District (Providence, RI)

To fund downtown ambassadors to support cleanliness and safety for small businesses engaged in outdoor activities. Contact information forthcoming.

Providence Revolving Fund (Providence, RI)

To purchase supplies to support qualifying small businesses, specifically focusing on minority and women owned business. For more information, please contact Carrie Zaslow at 401-272-2760; zaslow@revolvingfund.org.

RI Brewers Guild (Wakefield, RI)

To support small businesses, including Rhode Island based taproom breweries by providing grants for these small businesses to purchase tables, umbrellas, heaters and other PPE supplies. For more information, please contact Gary Richardson at 401-465-8809; gary@ribrewersguild.org.

Rhode Island Hospitality Association (Cranston, RI)

To work with hospitality businesses across the state to help them purchase supplies to encourage and increase outdoor activities. Contact information forthcoming.

The Pawtucket Foundation (Pawtucket, RI)

To provide Take It Outside equipment, particularly for distilleries breweries, and small businesses within the arts and cultural industry of Pawtucket. Contact information forthcoming.

Town of Cumberland (Cumberland, RI)

To support small businesses with Take It Outside-related supplies. Contact information forthcoming.

Town of North Providence (No. Providence, RI)

To support small businesses with Take It Outside-related supplies. For more information, please contact Brent Wiegand, Director of Planning and Zoning, (401) 232-0900 ext. 1227; Planning@northprovidenceri.gov.

Town of Smithfield (Smithfield, RI)

To support small businesses with Take It Outside-related supplies. Contact information forthcoming.

Town of Warren (Warren, RI)

To provide support to small businesses to continue to expand the outdoor dining and entertainment experiences in Warren. Contact information forthcoming.
 

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