Supplier Spotlight: Congratulations to Granny Squibb's Iced Tea!

Founded in 2009, the Granny Squibb Company brought a grandmother’s iced tea recipe to the market in Rhode Island and has since grown to sell their products in over 250 retail grocery stores throughout New England, including Whole Foods and Dave’s Marketplaces. Dedicated to giving back to the community, the company has committed to donating a portion of their revenue to local non-profit partners. 

Recently, SupplyRI nominated Granny Squibb's for the 2023 CVS Health & Roger Williams University Executive Learning Series Summit, hosted at CVS Health’s Rhode Island campus. Through this summit, diverse suppliers are immersed in a curriculum and mentorship program to help develop their business capacity, professional skills, growth potential, and more in areas ranging from marketing and procurement strategies to innovation and strategic planning. 



Congratulations to CEO Kelley McShane and Granny Squibb’s Organic Iced Tea as they learn how to take their business to the next level and work with Fortune 500 companies!

Are you a food company looking for resources to grow your business? Check out the Food Business Resource Guide. This resource is intended to be a one-stop shop for food-related businesses to find technical assistance, grant funding, and financing. 

Connect With Rhode Island Commerce

Commerce RI's goal is to stay in constant communication with Rhode Island's business community in a way that identifies and addresses their challenges. Check us out to view our full suite of programs and services.

Connect with our Business Advisors today!

401-521.HELP

Reach out now to learn more about STEP grants and how it can boost your international exporting efforts. The Chafee Center is here to support your ventures with financial assistance, so don't wait any longer and let STEP fuel your success!

Apply for the STEP Grant to start or expand your exports

The Chafee Center for International Business manages the STEP grant for the state of Rhode Island and will work with eligible small businesses to help them access funding that can be used to reimburse activities such as:Apply for the STEP Grant to start or expand your exports

The Chafee Center for International Business manages the STEP grant for the state of Rhode Island and will work with eligible small businesses to help them access funding that can be used to reimburse activities such as:

• Trade Shows and Trade Missions
• US Commercial Service activities
• Marketing/website optimization activities

To see if you qualify, or if you want to learn more about what activities are reimbursable, reach out to our International Trade Specialist, Cecilia Pirotto, or our Grant Manager/Budget Analyst Benjamin Weinstein.

Senesco Marine launched their second Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV), WindServe Genesis for WindServe Marine from its yard in Rhode Island, US on July 21st, 2023. The Windserve GENESIS was constructed at Senesco Marine by over 100 expert shipbuilders. 

The Windserve GENESIS will work for Orsted in their Northeast offshore wind farm builds. Able to carry 24 passengers and additional cargo at speeds as high as 27 knots, The Windserve GENESIS will be a great asset to the offshore wind industry. Senesco Marine continues to build four more offshore wind vessels and the first-ever hybrid ferries being built on the east coast.

Senesco Marine was founded by a local group of entrepreneurs who joined together in 1999 with the goal to create more jobs for Rhode Islanders. Senesco Marine started out building small deck barges and eventually moved into building larger vessels. Since then, Senesco Marine has entered the competitive tug and ferry building market and added aluminum fabrication to its repertoire.

Photo: The WindServe Genesis has launched at the Senesco Marine shipyard in Rhode Island (Photo: Senesco Marine) 

NEMIC Fellows Receive Nearly $200K from Commerce RI's Innovation Voucher Program

The New England Medical Innovation Center (NEMIC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and healthcare venture hub that provides expert support, education, connections to funding, and specialized expertise to innovators and entrepreneurs in the medical technologies space.

Facilitated by Commerce RI, the Innovation Voucher Awards provides up to $50,000 in grant money to selected companies with 500 employees or fewer. Recipients can apply the funds in various ways, including toward the commercialization of new products, processes, or services; accessing scientific, engineering, and design expertise; and facilitating the scale-to-market development of innovative ideas. 

“These vouchers provide a great opportunity for our NEMIC fellow companies to enhance their innovative projects and further contribute to the growth of our community's business landscape,” said NEMIC Co-Founder Aidan Petrie. “We applaud Commerce RI for their continued support of innovative companies located right here in Rhode Island.”

Please join us in congratulating these four remarkable companies and their contributions to driving innovation and improving healthcare outcomes.

• Kardio Status Inc.
• SMöLTAP, Inc.
• Modesys Technologies, LLC
• Iantrek, Inc.

Create Change as an Economic Recovery Corps Fellow!

Help us spread the word on the Economic Recovery Corps fellowship opportunity to early- to mid-career professionals with a passion and desire to create transformative economic change in communities nationwide! There is less than a week left to apply before the August 15 deadline. 

The ERC Fellowship program is a unique (paid) opportunity to join – and help build – a nationwide network of diverse practitioners and leaders with the passion, skills, and vision to advance new ways of doing economic development.  

ERC Fellows will serve as catalysts, working in partnership with local leaders and communities to activate regional economic development strategies that drive innovation, sustainable growth, and build long-term resilience. Throughout the 30-month program, fellows will gain access to robust professional development resources and support such as mentorship, trainings, conferences, research, networking, and more.  

To help us reach potential fellows, please share this opportunity with emerging leaders and practitioners across various disciplines that intersect with community and economic development! Ideal ERC fellows possess a minimum of five years of professional experience in a manager-level role, an entrepreneurial spirit, the ability to learn on the fly and communicate across multiple disciplines, natural ecosystem builders and connectors, and a passion to serve others to produce meaningful impact. 

Fellow applications close on August 15.  

Questions? Visit the ERC website, or email their team at erc@iedconline.org. 

Foundation 2 Blade | Rhode Island

What is Foundation 2 Blade:

Foundation 2 Blade is the industry’s most comprehensive training program for businesses that are ready to take advantage of the opportunities in the offshore wind industry. Over the course of three sessions, you will gain the tools, resources, and industry connections that prepare your business to successfully enter the offshore wind supply chain.

Attend Foundation 2 Blade and you will:

• Understand the phases and operations of offshore wind project development
• Determine where your company best fits in the supply chain
• Identify how you might diversify your products and services
• Understand the contracting process
• Learn a broad range of offshore wind terminology
• Identify additional training or certification requirements
• Identify unique, competitive advantages for your business
• Develop or modify a business/market-entry plan
• Gain the knowledge and confidence to pitch your business to offshore wind professionals

Who should attend?



Any business or individual ready to take advantage of business opportunities in offshore wind and want to join the supply chain.

RI MADE Kick-Off 

Accelerating the Defense Manufacturing Ecosystem

On July 31st at Nautilus Defense in Pawtucket, Polaris MEP hosted a kick-off event for the RI MADE defense manufacturing program. 

RI MADE (Rhode Island Manufacturing to Accelerate the Defense Ecosystem) is a program in which manufacturers within the Defense Supply Chain (or those considering Defense contracts) are eligible to apply for technical and/or capital assistance and support of up to $50,000. It is funded by a grant from the OLDCC.

The goal is to strengthen Ocean State manufacturers by providing support in three major areas: 

• Cybersecurity 
• Automation Readiness/Robotics 
• Risk Mitigation 

RI MADE Applications Now Open!

Deadline: August 31st | Online

With a goal to introduce Rhode Island's students to our state's high-wage/high-demand industries, our exhibitors play a key role in the JA Inspire program. 

Exhibitors will have the opportunity to host a booth over both days where students will stop by to learn more about you and your company, to help better prepare them for their future. All booths should have an interactive element, that gives students an idea of your work.

The fair will take place over three days at the Rhode Island Convention Center from November 14th-16th, 2023.