Site Readiness Program

The 2025 application window is now open.

Download the 2025 Site Readiness Application (.pdf)

Rhode Island Commerce’s Site Readiness Program provides flexible funding intended to meet specific challenges faced by cities, towns and developers. This program partners with municipalities and/or developers to fund municipal technical assistance and site-specific planning and improvements.  

Although there is no maximum award amount, commercial and industrial projects are generally awarded up to $125,000, and residential projects are generally awarded up to $75,000. Projects from cities and towns requesting technical assistance intended to catalyze growth and development will be prioritized. 

Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate other funding or support for the project in the application.  

STATUS: Closed - This program will begin accepting applications for its new round of funding starting Thursday, January 25, 2024.  

The program offers funding in two categories:  

Site Specific Planning/Improvements

Funding is available to support the planned or future development of specific sites.  

• Site-specific planning and pre-development activities including property surveys, master planning, engineering surveys or environmental studies.
• Site-specific project improvements include activities that will support planned or future build-out of significant sites including infrastructure improvements, land assembly activities, site clearing or demolition and building improvements.

Urban projects that are a minimum of two acres or 100,000 square feet of existing or planned building space, and suburban or rural projects that are a minimum of 10 acres will be prioritized for funding. 

Municipal Assistance

Funding through the program is also available to cities and towns to assist in the development of strategies and plans that spur development and growth in support of the municipality’s development goals. The activities could include:

• Assistance with writing zoning ordinances and updating comprehensive plans.
• Providing strategic planning support.
• Providing development coordination, or marketing support that will lead to the development or redevelopment of significant sites in a municipality.

Applications will be available through a link at the top of this page. Applications will be accepted via email at SiteReadiness@CommerceRI.com through Friday, March 28, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.

Note

Applicants can be considered for both the Site Readiness and Main Street Rhode Island Streetscape Improvement Fund programs by checking a box in the application. For more information on the Main Street Rhode Island Streetscape Improvement Fund program, please visit this page.