As we celebrate National Small Business Week, we are reminded of the incredible role small businesses play in shaping Rhode Island’s economic and cultural landscape. This week is not only a time to honor this year’s Small Business Administration award winners, but a moment to recognize and appreciate the thousands of small business owners across our state who open their doors every day with grit, purpose and pride.

At Skills for Rhode Island’s Future, we are proud to serve as a co-sponsor for this year’s National Small Business Week in partnership with the SBA. Our work with small businesses throughout Rhode Island has given us a front-row seat to the resilience, creativity and drive that define this community. We have witnessed tremendous growth across industries – growth made possible by bold entrepreneurs, dedicated public servants and a shared commitment to inclusive economic development.

In collaboration with local and state government partners, we have seen a clear focus emerge: cultivating new businesses, strengthening those already rooted in our communities and growing enterprises that can power future economic prosperity. The energy and spirit behind this movement are exactly what inspired the launch of the 2025 Small Business Summit – designed to support the professional development of our small business owners and help them keep pace with the evolving demands of the local, state, national and global economy.

Today’s small businesses must do more than adapt – they must anticipate. With technology driving nearly every facet of economic life, we believe Rhode Island small businesses are well-positioned to expand their reach far beyond our borders. Whether in food, arts, tech or services, a business can be headquartered here in Rhode Island and serve a global customer base with the right support, tools and vision.

Ongoing investments in technical assistance, access to capital and digital transformation will be essential to this growth. If we continue to invest in building the capacity of our small businesses – particularly those in historically underserved communities – we will unlock economic opportunity not just for individual entrepreneurs, but for entire neighborhoods and regions.

As we celebrate this year’s National Small Business Week, let us recommit to the partnerships and policies that make it possible for small businesses to not only survive but thrive. Rhode Island’s future depends on it.

Nina Pande is executive director of Skills for Rhode Island’s Future.