Governor Dan McKee announced April 11 that approximately $4.8 million in awards that will enable eligible small businesses to expand their capacity to do business outdoors. Funded through Governor McKee’s Rhode Island Rebounds initiative, the Take It Outside program will fund 21 intermediary organizations to support outdoor activities for small businesses. Examples of projects include purchasing items such as chairs, tables, heat lamps and tents, as well as executing al fresco opportunities for small businesses.

The City of Cranston was among the selected recipients of the funds and will receive up to $250,000 to support small businesses within Cranston to attract shoppers and restaurant goers.

“The Take It Outside program has been a successful small businesses programs created during the COVID-19 pandemic as it has allowed businesses to continue economic activity while at the same time promoting public health guidelines which focused on taking activity outdoors to limit spread of the virus,” said McKee. “I am proud to support the Take It Outside initiative to continue helping our local businesses who have faced extraordinary challenges since the onset of the pandemic and I thank the General Assembly for approving this critical funding.”

Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio and House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi said, “The federal recovery funds appropriated through the RI Rebounds program is one way in which the state has worked to partner with and support small businesses. The ‘Take It Outside’ program, in particular, has been a lifeline for many small businesses. From tables and chairs to heat lamps, the goods and services supported through this program continue to provide a lifeline to support small businesses as they work to operate in the safest manner possible.”

Businesses that are the ultimate beneficiaries of the program must have less than $1 million in annual gross revenues and demonstrate a negative 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.

Earlier in the pandemic, the Take it Outside program successfully awarded more than 100 intermediary organizations a total of more than $6 million across two rounds of funding in 2020 and 2021. This year’s program is made possible through Governor McKee’s Rhode Island Rebounds Initiative, which is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act’s State Fiscal Recovery Funds. Earlier this year RI Commerce unveiled the Small Business Grants program, the Hospitality, Tourism and Events Industry Direct Grants, and the Placemaking Initiative. The General Assembly approved Governor McKee’s Rhode Island Rebounds Down Payment proposal, which included relief for children and families, small businesses and investments for affordable housing.

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.

Other grantees include: Center for Southeast Asians (up to $643,500); Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce (up to $250,000); City of East Providence (up to $150,000); City of Pawtucket (up to $100,000); East Greenwich Chamber of Commerce (up to $26,000); Federal Hill Commerce Association (up to $248,500); NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley (up to $250,000); North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce (up to $345,600); Northern RI Chamber of Commerce (up to $247,500); Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce (up to $10,000); Providence Downtown Improvement District (up to $330,000); Providence Revolving Fund (up to $450,000); RI Brewers Guild (up to $208,000); Rhode Island Hospitality Association (up to $637,677); The Pawtucket Foundation (up to $101,200); Town of Cumberland (up to $100,000); Town of North Providence (up to $100,0000); Town of Smithfield (up to $100,000); Town of Warren (up to $100,000); Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (up to $150,000).