McKee announceS $4.5 million in grants to support small businesses

April 11, 2022 9:09 am

Cori Dubois,

Take It Outside — Gov. Dan McKee and other state leaders are seen outside The Guild in Pawtucket, Monday, April 11, 2022. (WLNE)

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Gov. Dan McKee announced $4.5 million in grants as part of an initiative to support small businesses in the state.

McKee was joined by Lt. Gov. Sabrina Matos and Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor in Pawtucket Monday afternoon.

McKee announced the “Take It Outside” initiative earlier this year. The initiative is part of the McKee administration’s Rhode Island Rebound Program, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.

Take It Outside is a statewide effort to “encourage and increase outdoor commercial activities” while helping to “reduce the transmission rate of COVID-19.”

“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 COVID-19 pandemic,” said McKee. “This funding will go a long way in boosting our economy and keeping our momentum going.”

During the pandemic, the initiative awarded more than 100 organizations a total of more than $6 million across two rounds of funding in 2020 and 2021.