Cranston’s new Take It Outside grant program is now live via the city’s website. According to Director of Economic Development Franklin Paulino, the $250,000 funding is meant to provide financial assistance to Cranston business owners who would like to expand their outdoor footprint and/or purchase products that would allow them to take their business outside and reduce the transmission of Covid.

This is the city’s third round of Take It Outside grant funding – the first two distributions took place in 2020 and 2021. This time around, the initiative is being conducted as a reimbursement program where businesses purchase the goods and give the receipts to Paulino who reimburses the applicant. Paulino said the funds were distributed ahead of time in the first two rounds because businesses were already suffering and tight on cash because of the pandemic.

Under the grant application, business owners can request from $2,500 to $10,000, and the funding can be put toward expenses including 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 related to purchasing or obtaining goods or services that are necessary to increasing the business’s outdoor opportunities.

Paulino said the department has started receiving applications and many businesses are requesting funding for fences, chairs and tables. One of the issues that applicants have run into is that they are suggesting fixed, outdoor structures. Paulino said no permanent attachments can be built; this is a temporary relief program that ends in April 2023.

So far, Paulino has received applications from Rolfe Square, Pawtuxet Village and the Knightsville areas where people are looking to use parking spaces in the front of businesses for seating.

Each application will be reviewed and Paulino will notify individuals awarded the Take It Outside funding. To be eligible for the grant, applicants must be a Rhode Island-based business, have made less than $1 million in gross annual revenue in either 2020 or 2021, been negatively impacted by the Covid pandemic and have not been disbarred in the federal System of Account Management (SAM); individuals must also be up to date on taxes and have their license permits.

Paulino said the grant program will be on a first-come-first-serve basis and will be ongoing until all funds are expended. All approved items must be purchased/paid by Dec. 31, 2022, and he will conduct on-site visits during or upon completion of the project.

The application includes six questions, ranging from how the business will use these funds to total project costs and if the applicant has applied for any previous Take It Outside grants.

To apply for the Take It Outside grant, visit cranstonri.gov. Applications must be printed and brought to the Department of Economic Development in Cranston City Hall.