October 5, 2022—PROVIDENCE, RI—Skills for Rhode Island’s Future (SkillsRI) announced today that it received $4 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance from the US Economic Development Administration. The Grant was secured with matching funds from the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. The grant funds will be used to drive economic transformation and innovation for small and disadvantaged businesses through the creation of the Small Business Resource Hub.
The Small Business Resource Hub is a first-of-its-kind, one-stop resource for small and disadvantaged businesses to access a range of services, including legal, human resources, finance, bookkeeping, marketing, fundraising, strategic planning and more. While the Hub will service all small businesses across Rhode Island, a particular focus will be placed on women and minority-owned businesses and businesses in underserved communities.
“At SkillsRI, we know the key to a strong economic recovery in Rhode Island starts with small businesses,” said Nina Pande, Executive Director at Skills for Rhode Island’s Future. “With the creation of the Small Business Resource Hub, we will be able to provide critical services to small businesses that would otherwise be left with no other option than to close their doors. Our goal is to help small and disadvantaged businesses that often face barriers gain their footing, stabilize and scale, and ultimately, build strong, economically vibrant communities.”
“Supporting our state’s businesses has always been a top priority of the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation,” said RI Secretary of Commerce Liz Tanner. “As a sign of our continued commitment to cultivating our small business community, we are happy to partner with SkillsRI on the establishment of the RI Small Business Resource Hub; an essential resource for entrepreneurs looking for assistance in strengthening and growing their business.”
About Skills for Rhode Island’s Future
Skills for Rhode Island’s Future (SkillsRI) is a non-profit working to match businesses that have current, unmet hiring needs with qualified, unemployed and underemployed Rhode Island job seekers. For more information, visit www.skillsforri.com.
About Rhode Island Commerce Corporation
As a quasi-public agency, the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation is the official full-service, economic development organization for the state of Rhode Island. The Agency serves as a government and community resource to help businesses expand in, and relocate to, Rhode Island. For more information, please visit www.commerceri.com.
