**MEDIA ADVISORY**
For Planning Purposes
Wednesday, April 9
SkillsRI Launches Woonsocket Small Business HUB with Community Celebration
New entrepreneur resource HUB opening inside Woonsocket Education Center (WOC)
WOONSOCKET, RI— On Wednesday, April 9, Skills for Rhode Island’s Future (SkillsRI)—the state’s leading nonprofit workforce intermediary—will officially launch the Woonsocket Small Business HUB, in partnership with the City of Woonsocket, the Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner, and the Business Empowerment Alliance of Rhode Island (BEARI).
Located inside the Woonsocket Education Center (WOC) on Main Street, the Woonsocket Small Business HUB is a new resource designed to support the growth and success of local small businesses. It offers a range of free services, including one-on-one business guidance, technical assistance, and access to tools and training to help entrepreneurs start, grow, and scale their operations.
The launch represents a strategic investment in the economic development of northern Rhode Island. Its goal is to strengthen the local small business ecosystem by delivering targeted support, practical resources, and a collaborative space for entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.
The celebration will include complimentary refreshments, an overview of the HUB’s free services and programming, and insights into the broader strategy to support small business development. A brief speaking program will feature remarks from:
- Hon. Christopher Beauchamp, Mayor of WoonsocketÂ
- Jess Key, Assistant Commissioner for Workforce, RI Office of the Postsecondary CommissionerÂ
- Jill Olson-Crowley, Director, Woonsocket Education Center
- Nina Pande, Executive Director SkillsRI Â Â
- Valerie Gonzalez, Woonsocket City Council
- Julie Owens, Social Enterprise Greenhouse
- Lisa Ranglin, Rhode Island Black Business Association
- Oscar Mejias, Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
WHO
Skills for Rhode Island’s Future in partnership with the City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner, and the Business Empowerment Alliance of Rhode Island (BEARI).
WHAT
Woonsocket Small Business HUB Launch
WHERE
Woonsocket Education Center
115 Main Street Woonsocket, RI
WHEN
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
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Media Contact (For SkillsRI)
Chelsea DeCesare, Half Street Group
401.286.9037 | chelsea@halfstreetgroup.com
For Immediate Release:
April 9, 2025
SkillsRI Launches Woonsocket Small Business HUB with Community Celebration
New entrepreneur resource HUB opening inside Woonsocket Education Center (WOC)
WOONSOCKET, RI—A new chapter in small business support began today in Woonsocket with the official launch of the Woonsocket Small Business HUB—an initiative designed to empower local entrepreneurs and strengthen the city’s economic future.
Skills for Rhode Island’s Future (SkillsRI), in partnership with the City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner, and the Business Empowerment Alliance of Rhode Island (BEARI), unveiled the HUB’s new office inside the Woonsocket Education Center (WOC). The space will serve as a dedicated resource for entrepreneurs seeking free guidance, technical assistance, and access to tools and training to start, grow, or scale their businesses.
“We are honored to partner with Mayor Beauchamp, the City Council, and the Woonsocket community to launch the Woonsocket Small Business Hub. Together, we are building an ecosystem where small businesses can start, grow, and scale—with access to the critical resources and support they need to thrive,” said Nina Pande, Executive Director of SkillsRI. “This is more than just an initiative; it is an investment in the economic future of Woonsocket and the entrepreneurs who call it home.”
The launch celebration brought together community partners, law makers, and small business owners from around northern Rhode Island to highlight the HUB’s role in the city’s broader economic development strategy. Attendees including Woonsocket Mayor Christopher Beauchamp, and entrepreneurs from around northern Rhode Island explored the new space, connected with support organizations, and learned about upcoming programming.
“As businesses are served in this new small business hub in Woonsocket, they will have immediate access to resources that assist their talent needs through postsecondary education,” said Shannon Gilkey, Ed.D., Rhode Island Commissioner of Postsecondary Education. “Supporting small businesses, driving economic development, and bolstering postsecondary education are key goals of Governor McKee’s RI2030 plan and essential to Rhode Island’s economic health.”
In September, 2024, Woonsocket City Council voted to approve an ordinance to appropriate $75,000 of American Resource Plan Act (ARPA) funds for a centralized small business resource center. The hub, proposed by SkillsRI and supported by Woonsocket City Councilwoman Valerie Gonzalez and Mayor Beauchamp, was incubated among key business leaders statewide including the Rhode Island Black Business Association (RIBBA), Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG), Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Center for Women & Enterprise. The Woonsocket City Council unanimously approved the ordinance on November 4, 2024 and executed a facilities use and license agreement between the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner and SkillsRI.
The Woonsocket Small Business HUB will serve as an ongoing resource for entrepreneurs across all industries and business stages. It represents a strategic investment in the region’s small business ecosystem and a commitment to inclusive, sustainable economic growth. For more information, visit https://www.woonsocketsbhub.com/
About Skills for Rhode Island’s Future
Skills for Rhode Island’s Future (SkillsRI) is a nonprofit workforce intermediary dedicated to building strong and diverse talent pipelines for Rhode Island businesses. SkillsRI works with socially responsible, civic-minded employers, helping design, manage and deliver talent solutions aimed at closing skill gaps, developing inclusive hiring practices, improving business outcomes and growth, all while helping Rhode Islanders find jobs and career opportunities.
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Media Contact (For SkillsRI)
Chelsea DeCesare, Half Street Group
401.286.9037 | chelsea@halfstreetgroup.com
