Rhode Island Commerce

Today, we joined state and federal leaders in Wickford Village for the official kick off to #SmallBusiness Season in Rhode Island. We're grateful to the SBA Rhode Island District Office for bringing together business leaders and support groups from across the state to offer our assistance and available resources. Reminder: You can shop, dine, and #BuyLocalRI with iconic local favorites throughout the holiday season by going to www.BuyLocalRI.org ??

NEW: Last night our Board of Directors approved our latest round of Innovation Voucher recipients, awarding $225K to support three local businesses.

Proudly home to satellite offices for dozens of European #offshorewind leaders, Rhode Island is evolving as an ideal landing spot for global clean energy companies looking for a stateside presence.? ? Earlier this month, Rhode Island Commerce Vice President of Business Development & Investments William Cox represented Commerce to highlight the state's growing offshore wind cluster at the Offshore Wind North East Event in Sunderland, hosted by NOF, the UK's leading business development network for the energy sector. ? We were inspired by productive conversations with industry leaders looking to make their mark in the U.S. market. From engineers and manufacturers, to IT developers, to supply chain providers and more, the connections made through the NOF network are invaluable to continuing to grow Rhode Island's clean energy industry. That's why we're so excited to announce that Rhode Island Commerce is now an NOF Global Partner - giving us a key role in their growing network of industry leaders and innovators. The Ocean State remains committed to America's offshore wind industry, and this Global Partnership with NOF?will?help us continue to attract new businesses to our state. #OWNE2024 #NOF #offshorewind #cleanenergy #innovation

Meet Bolden Therapeutics - a Providence-based #biotech leader developing new therapeutics to improve neurological disease outcomes. We were proud to award Bolden Therapeutics an innovation voucher to support their collaboration with the Fallon Laboratory at Brown University. Through this partnership, Bolden is working to better understand the potential of their novel therapeutic treatment to combat a broad spectrum of neurological conditions, with a particular focus on Alzheimer’s disease. Follow us for more #RIInnovators spotlights on the inspiring work happening everyday by leaders in our state's innovation economy. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eVT5iik2

#OceanTechSpotlight: REGENT is building the future of sustainable maritime mobility, and now they'll be building it in a new, 225,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at Quonset Development Corporation in North Kingstown! Supported by $4 million in Rhode Island Commerce incentives, this local employer is creating 300 jobs - with the potential for 450 more - building the future of seaglider technology here in the Ocean State. https://lnkd.in/ewfgKzrP

In the latest 'Connect with Commerce' column in Providence Business News, Secretary Tanner discusses the importance of supporting minority-owned businesses through our Minority Business Accelerator and other initiatives. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eVPzKZ_d

"A record 28 million people visited Rhode Island in 2023 — a more than 2 percent increase — as tourism continued to improve since the pandemic." ?? Total spending: $5.6 billion ?? Food & beverage: $1.4B ?? Hotels & lodging: $1.2B Read more, via Boston Globe Media. https://lnkd.in/e6cajdDf

We joined state and local business leaders at Governor McKee's micro / small business roundtable at Innovate Newport last week. From better access to capital and workforce development programs to key initiatives like Learn365 and Attendance Matters, we discussed just a few of the ways we're investing in our small businesses and workforce.

Tourism plays a vital role in Rhode Island’s economy, and we are proud to report another record year for the Ocean State in 2023. ?? Visitors grew 2.2% to a record 28.4M people ?? Spending totaled $5.6B, an increase of 4.6% ??? Supported 86,612 jobs and generated $935M in state and local tax revenues. MORE: https://lnkd.in/e2krAG9Y

?? REMINDER: Proposals for our Placemaking Initiative are due this Friday, November 15. Grants of up to $75,000 for events, and up to $200,000 for capital improvement projects, are available under a new Request for Proposals (RFP). Learn more & submit your proposal ?? https://lnkd.in/gtHnG28Z