Rhode Island Commerce

10/15/2026

Rhode Island Commerce is connecting local businesses with trade expertise to help them navigate tariffs and explore ways to manage import costs.

On October 30, join us for a practical look at how Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZs) may help businesses reduce or defer customs duties. Scott Taylor, Member and Foreign-Trade Zones Practice Leader at Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., will explain how FTZs work and what to consider when assessing whether the program fits your business.

Manufacturers, supply chain providers, distributors, warehouse operators, importers and exporters are encouraged to attend.

Friday, October 30, 2026 | 8:30-11:00 a.m.
Bryant University Entrepreneurship Leadership Center, Amphitheater
100 Salem Street, Smithfield, RI

Light refreshments will be provided.

Register: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=VOYNNo79xk-Pto-qAMOicDQlNc2ZWytLhguaMTsNiJVURDQzNTdBNlBCRTY5RFNWQk1CSkgwR1I5Ti4u

10/13/2026

Rhode Island Commerce is now accepting Innovation Voucher program applications. Innovation Vouchers are grants that fund strategic investments in local businesses to catalyze growth through research and development (R&D). Businesses may apply for up to $75,000 in funding. Applications are being accepted through Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

PROVIDENCE, R.I.

10/06/2026

Growing opportunities for Rhode Island’s food entrepreneurs!

Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor and the Commerce team were proud to support the opening of Hope & Main’s newest location, West End Kitchens. The new shared-use culinary facility will support food businesses at multiple stages of growth and is projected to help 50 new businesses get started in its first year — building on the more than 500 businesses Hope & Main has supported over the past 12 years. The initiative is supported in part by Commerce’s Innovation Network Matching Grants.

Among the many leaders at the ribbon-cutting, two of Hope & Main’s entrepreneur success stories really took the cake: Katie Potter of Newport Chowder Company shared how she’s carrying on her mom’s recipe and legacy, while Lorianni Lantigua-Rondon of M's Bakery Café reflected, “When I came here [to Hope & Main], I had a dream. Now I have a business.”

Congratulations to Lisa Raiola and the entire Hope & Main team on this amazing milestone — and thank you for all you do to advance Rhode Island’s vibrant local food scene and create new opportunities for small businesses!

10/02/2026

Congratulations, REGENT Craft! An incredible event earlier this week showcasing the capabilities of the company’s Viceroy flagship seaglider and Squire autonomous seaglider.

REGENT’s Demo Day brought together hundreds of champions, investors, customers, supply chain partners, and defense and government leaders to celebrate this major milestone, mark the opening of REGENT’s new 255,000-square-foot Seaglider Manufacturing Facility (the first of its kind in the world!) and explore the future of ocean-based travel and national security.

Throughout the day, Rhode Island was recognized as a hub of ocean tech innovation. As Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor said in his remarks, the Ocean State—including Commerce and Governor Dan McKee—is proud to be a partner in not only helping REGENT bring its vision to life, but also in continuing to advance our state’s robust and growing ocean economy leadership.

On stage, Secretary Pryor and Commerce Corporation President and CEO Jim Bennett joined REGENT Co-Founder and CEO Billy Thalheimer, Co-Founder and CTO Michael Klinker, alongside other national and global leaders for the facility’s ribbon-cutting.

Congratulations again to REGENT, and we look forward to all that’s ahead!

09/29/2026

Governor Dan McKee, Chair of the Rhode Island Commerce Board, announced that the Board awarded $820,364 in funding to 12 organizations through the state’s Innovation Initiatives.

PROVIDENCE, R.I.

09/25/2026

Yesterday, we brought together innovators, researchers, investors, and leaders for the inaugural Futures forum. This year’s theme: Ocean — exploring its challenges and opportunities, economy, technology and our future.

The half-day forum featured a dynamic mix of presentations and conversation, with discussions spanning underwater habitation with Fabien Cousteau Ocean Group; harnessing the power of ocean waves with Inna Braverman Eco Wave Power; seaglider travel and national defense with Billy Thalheimer REGENT Craft; and ocean research with Vincent Pieribone OceanX.

Futures created a space to bring people together, exchange ideas, break down silos, and explore what’s next. A tremendous thank you to our inspiring speakers, special guests, and attendees for making the day such a success.

Special thanks to Bill Bartholomew for serving as our emcee, and to Bryant University Global Trade Summit and Jason Kelly for helping kick off the day with our shared virtual welcome.

We look forward to keeping the conversation going and continuing to showcase Rhode Island as a leading hub for the ideas, innovations, and people shaping our future – together.

09/22/2026

It’s all about Rhode Island at The Big E!

Today is “Rhode Island Day” at the fair, and we’re celebrating the Ocean State with a full day of live music, artist demonstrations, food, drinks, makers, history and tourism highlights at the newly renovated Rhode Island Building.

This morning, Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor joined in the dedication of a commemorative Liberty Tree alongside RI Department of State Gregg Amore, Eastern States Exposition President and CEO Gene Cassidy, and Commerce’s Associate VP of Tourism Marketing Mark Brodeur.

Over its 17 day run, approximately 1.5 million people will visit The Big E. Come experience a little bit of everything that makes Rhode Island special.

Special thanks to the South County, Rhode Island, Rhode Island's Blackstone Valley, and the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative for helping to showcase our amazing state.

09/10/2026

A leading gathering for our national defense – last week, RI Commerce was proud to sponsor SENEDIA's 12th annual Defense Innovation Days. The three-day event brought together more than 400 national security experts, policymakers, and defense industry leaders developing cutting-edge technology and the next-generation workforce.

Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor and Commerce Corp. President & CEO Jim Bennett attended the event along with members of our team. Our Vice President of Business Development for the Defense Sector, Gloria Berlanga, moderated the international collaboration panel: Strength Through Partnership.

Congratulations to SENEDIA on creating this engaging event, and to everyone who helped make this year's conference a success. Commerce will continue working with our partners to help defense companies grow, create jobs, and strengthen Rhode Island's position as a hub for national security and technology.

https://senedia.org/defense-innovation-days/

09/09/2026

Applications are open for RI Commerce's Network Matching Grant program, conducted in collaboration with the Rhode Island Department of Administration.

Grants of at least $50,000 are available to eligible organizations that provide technical assistance, space on flexible terms, and/or access to capital for small and underserved Rhode Island businesses.

Eligible applicants include nonprofits, for-profits, and institutions of higher education. Applications are due Friday, September 18, by 5:00 p.m.
Learn more and apply: CommerceRI.com/innovation-network-matching

Funding available to organizations that provide technical assistance, space on flexible terms, and/or access to capital to small and underserved businesses. Deadline to apply: Friday, September 18, 2026, by 5:00pm EST PROVIDENCE, R.

09/04/2026

RI continues to make waves! Last week, Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor, Commerce Corporation President & CEO Jim Bennett, and Commerce team members joined two exciting days in Newport at the Polaris MEP 401TechBridge's event.

From innovator and investor networking sessions to on-water demonstrations and hands-on showcases of emerging maritime and dual-use technologies, BlueTIDE is accelerating innovation and highlighting Rhode Island's leadership in the blue economy.

With world-class research, defense assets, industry expertise, and a growing blue economy, Rhode Island is built to lead in this space.

Congratulations to Christian Cowan, the Polaris team, and all participating companies for an amazing event.

https://polaristechbridge.org/bluetide/