By EMMA BARTLETT

Governor Dan McKee signed off on the state’s $13.6 billion budget Monday and is already preparing for the next fiscal year. On June 22, McKee, Lt. Governor Sabina Matos and other state officials gathered at the Cranston Senior Enrichment Center to talk with small business owners about their businesses and what the state can do to assist them.

“I’m a small business person, and I’ve gone through the battles,” said McKee, recognizing the ups and downs that individuals can experience.

McKee is visiting the state’s 39 cities and towns to listen to the business owners’ ideas and prepare for next year’s budget. McKee said the FY 2023 budget included an article to help small businesses and that the state has funds for grants and will be working on more details.

Director of Economic Development Franklin Paulino, who helped organize the governor’s roundtable event, announced to Cranston business owners that the city received a $250,000 Take It Outside grant from the Commerce RI; this grant will provide financial assistance to Cranston business owners who would like to expand their outdoor footprint and/or purchase products that will allow them to take their businesses outside and reduce the transmission of Covid.

According to the grant, eligible expenses many include the costs affiliated with purchasing, obtaining, delivering, installing or enabling the use of chairs, tables, heat lamps, tents, outdoor Wi-Fi systems, masks, hand sanitizer, staffing, security, insurance costs related to specific outdoor activities, lighting, power sources, signage, bike racks and other costs affiliated with purchasing or obtaining goods or services that are necessary for outdoor opportunities.

Individuals may apply for funding up to $10,000, and all approved items must be purchased or paid for by Dec. 31, 2022. Paulino said funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis, and the Department of Economic Development may conduct on-site visits during/upon the project’s completion.

As for what business owners would like to see from the state, Alison Cavallo from Haven Fitness in Pawtuxet Village told McKee about her four-year-old yoga and Pilates studio. With two years of operation during the pandemic, she said the business is struggling with new client acquisitions. Cavallo said when things get expensive, the first health services that are first to cut from a personal budget.

When asked if there was some type of support that could be offered from a marketing perspective to get new clients in the door, Cavallo was informed of multiple programs that offer free training, mentoring and classes available.

Several questions were directed toward the federal government’s System for Award Management (SAM) which individuals use to register their business with the U.S. government. For businesses to receive federal dollars, they need to be registered on the SAM website. Norly Germain, who is the CEO and owner of My Tutor Build, said whenever there is an issue with SAM, the phone representative cannot help and when they say someone will follow up, no one calls back. Germain asked if there could be a person within the state that could act as a liaison between small business owners and those at SAM when issues arise.

Anthony Santori, who is in the hospitality industry, agreed that SAM was difficult to figure out and he was fortunate enough to have an account who could figure it out for him. He also mentioned the financial pain that small business owners who had their businesses shut down spoke to the financial pain that business owners are still experiencing from the pandemic. He said with today’s inflation and a possible recession, this could be an additional burden on business owners.

Santori suggested simplifying the Small Business Administration (SBA) loan process and targeting the process so the businesses that have had larger losses have their needs met. Santori said hosting festivals are economic generators which showcase the different types of businesses in the area.

Anika Kimble-Huntley, who serves as the chief marketing officer for Rhode Island Commerce, said 26 million people visit Rhode Island each year and that the state is focusing on destination marketing which drives revenue to local businesses.

“That’s what we’re trying to do – bring dollars into the economy,” McKee said. “Those dollars that get out into the community, those dollars can multiply and they will end up in your shops.”