Rhode Island Small Business Grants

Last Updated on August 23, 2023 by Hannah Stevens

The federal government allocates the majority of the budget of more than $3,609.00 million dollars in grants and additional funding sources of $2,310.00 million dollars from the local government into the business sector since small businesses and large corporations are the backbone of Rhode Island’s economic growth. The state of Rhode Island has 24,845 businesses, and these establishments are broken down into the following:

Rhode Island Business Sector Breakdown by Size

  • 14,447 registered businesses in Rhode Island have 0 to 4 employees.This breakdown includes those who work from home and have sole proprietorship.
  • 3,931 registered businesses in Rhode Island have 5 to 9 employees.
  • 2,768 registered businesses in Rhode Island have 10-19 employees.
  • 2,083 registered businesses in Rhode Island have 20-99 employees.
  • 608 registered businesses in Rhode Island have 100 to 499 employees.
  • Over 1,008 registered businesses in Rhode Island have over 500 employees.

Rhode Island Business Sector Breakdown in Service Industries

  • 3,056 registered businesses in Rhode Island are in the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services sector.
  • 1,747 registered businesses in Rhode Island are part of the Administrative, Support, Waste Management, and Remediation Services sector.
  • 2,961 registered businesses in Rhode Island belong in the Accommodation and Food Services sector.
  • More than 2,916 registered businesses in Rhode Island are also service orientated businesses, but are not part of the categories above.

You may also be eligible to apply for grants for small businesses if you work in the agriculture industry. The state of Rhode Island has more than 1,000 farms.

Small Businesses in Rhode Island

It is difficult to start and manage a small business in Rhode Island. More than $16,775,718,000.00 US dollars is spent on employee salaries/payroll alone in this state, and every year, more than 5,360 companies declare bankruptcy. The federal government doesn’t provide grants publicly for expanding or starting a business. However, some small business grants can be given in Rhode Island to help business owners start and grow their ventures. Moreover, grant recipients don’t have to repay the government funding. So, it is worth looking into small business grants to help fund your business.

Contact Rhode Island financial aid agencies to apply for business grants.

Recent State Funding Opportunities

Below is a list of opportunities recently published in the local state:

FUNDING NUMBERFUNDING TITLE
2022 NIST MEP 01Award Competition for Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers in the States of Kentucky, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and South Dakota
USDA NRCS RI CIG 21 NOFO0001075Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2021 – Rhode Island
USDA NRCS RI CIG 20 GEN0010772NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2020 – Rhode Island
USDA NRCS RI CIG 19 GEN0010118Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2019 – Rhode Island
HHS 2019 ACF OHS CH R01 1409Head Start and/or Early Head Start Grantee – The City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island
USDA NRCS RI CTA 18 003Rhode Island Statewide Conservation People’s Garden Project
USDA NRCS RI CIG 18 001Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2018 – Rhode Island
USDA NRCS RI CIG 16 01Rhode Island Conservation Innovation Grants
F16AS00176Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Act; Restoring Salt marsh and Estuarine Function in the Narrow and Maidford River drainages, Rhode Island

You can also find Pennsylvania small business grants and South Carolina small business grants on our site.