Rhode Island Commerce

Earlier this week, Secretary @stefanpryor joined @T2STEM Academy for the ribbon-cutting of its new Ocean Tech Engineering Lab, funded by Commerce. The highlight of the event was engaging with freshman and junior students, showcasing their innovative ocean tech projects. These impressive students are the future of Rhode Island and its ocean tech leadership. Thank you to TIMES2 Academy, Courage Builder, and the many industry leaders who contributed to building the program's robust curriculum and lab, as well as providing hands-on externship experiences to bring ocean tech career paths to life.

Secretary of Commerce @stefanpryor and Rhode Island Commerce today welcome 102 Wavemaker Fellows to its 10th cohort. The competitive refundable tax credit program reimburses Rhode Island professionals working across the state’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), design, healthcare, and education sectors in order to help lessen student loan debt. Learn more: shorturl.at/IRsnB

Looking for federal opportunities to help expand your business? Join the Rhode Island APEX Accelerator for an informative training event on the fundamentals of government contracting. This session will guide you through the essential steps to get started. Learn key strategies, best practices and valuable insights to help you navigate the world of government contracting and position your business for success. 📅: Thursday, March 26, 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Register here: riapex.ecenterdirect.com/events/4943

The Ready Set Rhody team recently presented at the Climate Adaptation Communication: Decoding Data and Risk for All forum in Boston, as part of the Climate Adaptation Forum series, where practitioners shared approaches for translating complex climate data into clear, actionable information that supports resilience planning. Silvana Mercado Barrios, Resliency Manager, was joined by Alex Maxwell from Fuss & O'Neill as well as Abbey Dahl from the Division of Statewide Planning. The presentation highlighted the small business perspective, emphasizing the importance of communicating climate risk in ways that help businesses understand vulnerabilities, access resources, and take practical steps to strengthen resilience. Learn more about the Resiliency: commerceri.com/business-assis…

Commerce’s Chief Strategy Officer, Daniela Fairchild, joined the Providence Business News Emerging Industries Summit this morning to talk about RI’s vibrant Blue Economy and growing opportunities driving innovation, workforce, and economic growth. Thank you to PBN and fellow panelists Linda Larsen, Jason Noel, Benjamin Sorkin, and Ted Williams for an insightful and inspiring discussion! @Polaris_TB

Calling all defense manufacturers and suppliers: On March 11, 2026, the CMMC Northeast Summit will bring together industry experts to help companies understand and prepare for the Department of War’s CMMC requirements. With CMMC now appearing in active DoW solicitations, early preparation is critical for protecting contract eligibility. 📍 Rhode Island College 🔗 Learn more & register: cmmcnesummit.org

Are you a defense manufacturer or supplier? On March 11, 2026, @RICNews is hosting the CMMC Northeast Summit. Hear from keynote speaker Katie Arring, former Acting Chief Information Officer for the Department of War, attend CMMC advising and assessment sessions and network with fellow defense sector colleagues. Learn more & register here: cmmcnesummit.org

📣 Now Accepting Applications 📣 Has your business been awarded a federal SBIR/STTR Phase 1 or 2 grant? The Science & Technology Advisory Council is now accepting applications for the state-level match. These awards assist RI's small businesses in executing federal SBIR/STTR projects. Deadline to apply: March 20, 2026. Learn More: stac.ri.gov/find-funding/i…

The countdown is on! Rhode Island’s leadership in marine technology will be on display on March 10 - 12 at @OceanologyIntl 2026 in London. RI Commerce will be in attendance together with tag] Deep Blue Composites, Flux Marine, @HavocAi_USV and @JaiaRobotics. We look forward to connecting with global partners and showcasing advances in ocean science. Visit us at Booth A500.

Learn more: blueinnovationsymposium.com

RI Commerce is proud to sponsor and participate in this year's Blue Innovation Symposium, taking place from February 9-11! We’ll be spotlighting Rhode Island’s vital role as a hub for ocean tech leadership and cutting-edge innovation. #BlueInnovation #OceanTech

Applications for our Innovation Voucher program are now open. Businesses may receive up to $75,000 for a specific research and development project. Learn more and apply here: commerceri.com/innovation-vou… 📅 : Deadline to apply is Thursday, February 5.

Read the full article: shorturl.at/kZA2B

Yesterday, @stefanpryor joined @ProvBusNews as a panelist at its 2026 Economic Trends Summit. The Secretary spoke about the strength of Rhode Island's industry sectors, highlighting the continued opportunities we have to attract new and support existing businesses.

Following the #RISOTS, we are excited by the momentum in the Ocean State. In 2025, we welcomed new companies, supported the growth of existing businesses, celebrated job growth and are continuing to expand in sectors including maritime, defense, and ocean tech. Here's to 2026!

Let's keep RI building. I’m proposing a $115M economic development bond to: ✅Expand maritime and defense infrastructure at @QuonsetRI 🔬Invest in @195District and life sciences 🏗️Develop construction-ready sites to attract advanced manufacturers and create jobs. #RISOTS

Keep Rhode Island building—that's one of the best ways to protect our economy from national downturns. That’s why my budget will call for $600M in bond proposals to upgrade infrastructure across our state—in business, higher education, K–12, and housing. #RISOTS

While we work to deliver Affordability for All, we must also fight for opportunity for all. At the❤️of opportunity is a four-letter word: J-O-B-S. Since the start of my administration, 36K+ private sector jobs have been added to our economy, with more in the pipeline. #RISOTS

In partnership with the City Council, @CommerceRI and @BrownUniversity, we have announced recovery grants for merchant associations impacted by the December 13 shooting at Brown. Each $15,000 City grant is matched by Commerce and Brown, delivering $45,000 each to Thayer, Wickenden and Wayland Square Merchant Associations. providenceri.gov/mayor-brett-sm…

To learn more and apply: commerceri.com/innovation-vou…

The Innovation Voucher Program is accepting applications for spring awards. Innovation Vouchers are strategic investments in local small businesses that catalyze growth through research and development (R&D). 📅: Applications due by February 5.