2022 Take It Outside Program
The City of East Providence has been selected by the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation as a “Take it Outside” grant awardee. The grant award will enable the City to provide up to $10,000 in grant funding to East Providence small businesses that are working to take business services outside during the pandemic.
East Providence businesses may apply and use the funds to purchase chairs, tables, heat lamps, tents, outdoor Wi-Fi systems, masks, hand sanitizer, staffing, security, insurance costs related to specific outdoor activities, lighting, power sources, relevant signage, bike racks, and other costs for purchasing or obtaining goods or services that, in the sole discretion of the City, are deemed necessary to increase outdoor opportunities for impacted small businesses.
Of the full $150,000 grant funding, 20 percent will be allocated to businesses in the following categories: Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)-owned businesses, Women Business Enterprise (WBE)-owned businesses, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)-owned businesses.
Businesses applying for this grant must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Have less than $1 million in annual gross revenues in either 2020 or 2021;
- Not be disbarred in the federal System of Account Management (SAM); and
- Demonstrate a negative impact from the COVID-19 health pandemic by attesting to one of the following: it was forced to close or curtail its operations due to the pandemic or a government order pertaining to the pandemic; it experienced a material supply chain delay or disruption that negatively impacted its operations; it experienced increased cost as a result of the pandemic, it was forced to lay off workers as a result of the pandemic, or was impacted by the pandemic in some other way.
- Business must be located in the City of East Providence
- Must have a business that can safely accommodate the described layout and use of funds.
Submittal Requirements:
Applicants must complete the attached Application Form (link below) including the Budget Sheet, must submit a W-9 form, along with photos and/or diagrams of the current area without improvements and a diagram of the proposed outdoor arrangement. Once installed the City Building Official and Fire Marshall will certify the installation for overall safety and compliance with appropriate City regulations. The City reserves the right to deny or reduce the amount approved for any line item in the budget. Applicants are welcome to submit additional attachments including letters of support, etc.