A #SUPPORTSMALLBUSINESSCHALLENGE Nepwort Summer
HOW THE CHAMBER HAS HELPED BUSINESSES DURING COVID-19
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Restore Greater Newport Initiative
Restore Greater Newport is a task force comprised of leaders from the private and public sectors, dedicated to regaining economic prosperity in our region, working collaboratively to minimize the economic impact of the COVID-19 economic crisis. Founded by the Chamber and Discover Newport, we are working with SENEDIA, RIMTA, Polaris MEP and RIHA to develop a recovery and resiliency strategy for the region to help the broader business community bounce back to become the thriving economy we were pre-pandemic. Visit restoregreaternewport.com to learn more.
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Restore RI Grant Program
The Chamber is a partner organization with the state of RI in rolling out this grant program. Visit newportchamber.com and click on the Restore RI Grant tab for application details. The Chamber regularly offers direct guidance and informational webinars to business owners.
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PPE Distribution
The Chamber has distributed PPE supplies to over 3,200 employees in 300 local businesses, in collaboration with the state of RI. More supplies to come! newportchamber.com/ri-ppe-forpersonal-service-businesses
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Virtual Programming
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We Promote YOU!
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Keeping you informed now - more than ever!
In addition to hosting forums with government officials to discuss the various stages of shut down and reopening plans, we continue to provide professional development and education to the business community. Series include Ask the Expert, HR Roundtables, Financial Fitness and more. Partner organizations include CCRI, CWE, SBA, SBDC, and HSRI for Employers. newportchamber.com/events
Member benefits include full page ads in our monthly Member Exchange, shared posts on social media, radio spots, and more. Throughout the pandemic crisis, we have been proactive in highlighting our local businesses and the innovative ways they have adapted to this new norm. newportchamber.com/marketing-opportunities
Sharing up to date information that businesses need to know to comply with new regulations and restrictions, as well as funding opportunities to help businesses through these difficult financial times has been our top priority. Our weekly At a Glance email reaches 2,400 recipients. Monthly E-Newsletter: 3,000. Member Exchange: 2,400. Follow us on Social for daily posts!
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Advocacy
The Chamber continues to advocate for the needs of the business community and has had a seat at the table as part of the Commerce Corporation’s Reopening Advisory Committee. We have also consulted on many of the initiatives contemplated at the Commerce Corporation of Rhode Island to help with policy and program implementation for the region’s small businesses and assisted in spreading information to municipal and business leaders.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Tradition Continues – 50 Annual Bowen’s Wharf Christmas Tree Lighting to Take Place on Saturday, December 5th Newport, RI – The Bowen’s Wharf Merchants Association will host a reimagined 50th Annual Bowen’s Wharf Tree Lighting on Saturday, December 5th, 2020. Due to the circumstances and current restrictions on large in-person gatherings amidst the ongoing pandemic, the brief ceremony and countdown will be live streamed on social media for all to enjoy from the comforts of home. The program will be available to watch on the Bowen’s Wharf Facebook and Instagram pages, where a City Official will light the tree at 6 p.m. to mark the official beginning of the holiday season at Bowen’s Wharf! The 30-foot Norway spruce will come from Pachet Brook Tree Farm in Tiverton and remain lit until early February, so while the event will be scaled down this year, all are encouraged to come see the spectacular tree and visit the wharf ’s festively decorated restaurants and retail merchants throughout the season. Bart Dunbar, President of Bowen’s Wharf Company, who began the long-established tradition in 1971 is happy to see it continue, even if it meant adjusting initial plans for the milestone occasion. “While it’s not the grand celebration we originally had in mind, we feel it is more important than ever to share the spirit of the holiday season with the community and create memories with loved ones – even from home.” Admission is free and Bowen’s Wharf restaurants and shops will be open for holiday specials. For those who choose to attend in person, please note that there will be no live musical performances or visits with Santa and the City of Newport’s face covering mandate will be closely monitored and enforced. Bowen’s Wharf is also partnering with Lite Rock 105 and The Newport Harbor Hotel to give away a “Shop Local, Stay Local” prize package, where one winner will receive a $500 gift certificate to Bowen’s Wharf and complimentary one-night stay at the hotel next door. The sweepstakes kicks off on Monday, November 23rd and entries can be submitted here. ### th
About Bowen’s Wharf – The Anchor of Newport
Centrally located at the foot of Newport’s Historic Hill, along America’s Cup Avenue, Bowen’s Wharf offers public access to Newport’s famed waterfront. Historically, it was the vital commercial port of thriving pre-revolutionary Rhode Island, and it is still commercially important today. A full-service marina, restaurants & eateries, tours, boutiques & galleries as well as events make it a year-round destination. No matter the season, a visit to Bowen’s Wharf is enlivening and educational!
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Contact: Matthew Sheaff (401) 490-0688, matt.sheaff@commerce.ri.gov Restore Rhode Island Grant Program Expansion Launching Tuesday, September 22 Now includes expanded eligibility for sole proprietors and reduced documentation requirements for all applicants Nearly 900 businesses already funded, including more than 300 restaurants, over 100 retail businesses, approximately 100 personal care businesses like hair salons and barbershops, and nearly 50 gyms and fitness centers FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Rhode Island Commerce today announced that the Restore Rhode Island grant program [commerceri.com] expansion will launch tomorrow, Tuesday, September 22. This new round will feature expanded program eligibility, an updated application process with reduced documentation for all applicants, and other new program features. In the seven weeks since the program began receiving applications, nearly 900 Rhode Island small businesses have already received Restore RI grants totaling approximately $8M. Updated information regarding expanded eligibility and the application process is already available at commerceri.com. Rhode Island Commerce will also hold a Facebook live tomorrow, September 22 at 10:30AM to explain how to apply. Registration for the live event can be found on the Rhode Island Commerce Facebook page [facebook.com]. Businesses can also sign up for Zoom office hours this week to get answers to their questions. Details and registration can be found on commerceri.com. Important note: if you are a business who has already applied for the Restore Rhode Island grant program and was previously deemed ineligible (perhaps because you were a sole proprietor with no additional employees) you will NOT need to reapply for the program. To request your previous application be reactivated, contact Commerce here [commerceri.com]. Key Program Changes More businesses are now eligible including sole proprietors and businesses without employees and businesses with up to 50 FTEs Streamlined grant amount calculation process: any eligible business with at least 30% revenue loss in a month March to July may now apply. Fewer documents to upload for all applicants About the Program The Restore Rhode Island grant program provides grants to the small businesses in Rhode Island hurt by COVID-19 to offset fixed costs incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic or costs related to reopening or adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants range from $1,500 to $15,000. “The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the small business community hard and our team is working day and night in order to support more and more small businesses,” said Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor. “We are pleased to be expanding program eligibility this week so we can assist a broader array of small businesses. If you own or operate a small business and want to find out more about this grant program, please join one of our upcoming information or technical assistance sessions.” The Restore Rhode Island grant program was instituted after extensive dialogue with the state’s business community including a May meeting [providencejournal.com] of the Governor’s Business Restoration Advisory Council which discussed various options for small business relief, a survey posted in May on [linkprotect.cudasvc.com]https://link.edgepilot.com/s/1ff3c2d3/ diIhqzlEH0SCqKYMk6iG-A?u=http://www.reopeningri.com/ [linkprotect.cudasvc.com] which asked Rhode Islander’s their priorities for the State’s allocation of CARES Act funding, and consultation with industry associations and representatives of the Black and Latino business community. The Restore Rhode Island grant program award amounts are calculated based on the information provided by small businesses in their applications. Businesses must demonstrate they have experienced a financial loss and have also incurred (or will incur) expenses due to COVID-19 in order to qualify for an award. Additional eligibility requirements can be seen on the Restore Rhode Island grant page [commerceri.com]. ###
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Allyson McCalla (774) 234-8868 | Bari Freeman (401) 924-3222 November 24, 2020 BLACK GIRLS DO BIKE NEWPORT CHAPTER + GIVING TUESDAY (Newport, RI) Bike Newport is excited to announce the launch of Black Girls Do Bike Newport, a chapter of the national community of women and girls of color who share a love of biking. The vision of Black Girls Do Bike (BGDB), a growing national organization, is to establish a comfortable place where seasoned and new female bicycle riders can support one another, organize rides, advocate for people who want to ride bikes, and promote skill sharing. BGDB champions efforts to introduce the joy of riding bicycles to all women, but especially black women and girls. Black Girls Do Bike was founded by Monica Garrison in 2013 after a summer of riding through the streets of Pittsburgh, and Garrison wondering why she didn’t see more women like herself. What started as a question - “Do black girls bike? - has evolved into a national organization with more than 90 chapters, each with its own Facebook group, all led by a community Shero. Newport’s Shero is Allyson McCalla, Bike Newport’s Director of Community Relations and Administration, and certified Bicycle Instructor. Allyson launched the Newport chapter in September 2020. “I spoke with Monica at a national conference in 2019 and knew then that I wanted to bring Black Girls Do Bike to Newport. At the time, it sparked my interest to get back on a bike and then to become a certified instructor for our education programs. Now I want to inspire others like me to enjoy our city, our lives, and our well-being on a bike,” says McCalla. “Our chapter of Black Girls Do Bike will bring together women of color to share a passion, ride together, motivate one another, and grow the community of black girls who do bike.” So far, the Newport Chapter has nearly 200 people in its Facebook group - which is private, but open to any WOC or supporter who seeks a bicycling community. The organizers of Black Girls Do Bike share what they have learned with their chapters nationwide: •
Women of color are underrepresented in the bicycling community - in terms of leadership, ridership, advocacy, media and business ownership.
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Riding a bicycle is addictive and empowering!
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Women of color are hungry for images that reflect them.
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Women of all shapes and sizes enjoy cycling and covering long distances on their bikes.
For Giving Tuesday 2020 (on December 1), Bike Newport is raising funds for the Black Girls Do Bike Newport Chapter. Thanks to a generous supporter, all Giving Tuesday donations will be MATCHED in further support of Black Girls Do Bike Newport. Also on Giving Tuesday - anyone who donates $150 or more will receive a Black Lives Matter / Black Girls Do Bike Newport 2-sided lawn sign. And anyone who donates $250 or more will also receive a Black Lives Matter / Black Girls Do Bike Newport tote bag (while supplies last). To support Black Girls Do Bike Newport, visit https://link.edgepilot.com/s/aaad8b71/ALyZJncJIkqQXS8pVlOIfw?u=http://www.bikenewportri.org/donate. For more information about Black Girls Do Bike Newport, visit https://link.edgepilot.com/s/79b3e831/f8VHACW3mkGUNyx4aI_U8g?u=https://www.facebook.com/groups/blackgirlsdobikenewport. Established in 2011, Bike Newport is a bicycle advocacy organization whose mission is to create the conditions that lead to more people biking more often. # # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: November 12, 2020 Contact: Jennifer Whelihan Office: (401) 848-4141 Mobile: (401) 919-4702 Email: jwhelihan@childandfamilyri.org childandfamilyri.org
Child & Family Hosts a 2020 Holiday Basic Needs Drive Middletown (RI) November 12, 2020 – For years, Child & Family has run their Holiday Giving programs to provide Thanksgiving meals and holiday gifts to their clients in need. The programs have been very successful, uniting donors with families and children during a very hard time of year. This year due to COVID-19, Child & Family’s holiday giving programs will look very different. While they cannot accept physical food, food basket, gift or toy donations, they ARE collecting Stop & Shop and Walmart gift cards and monetary donations. Child & Family’s holiday giving programs were created to bring joy to our neighbors in need. Often, the gift given through this program was the only one the children in need would receive. Child & Family is dependent on the continued participation and support of our community to help create special holiday memories for their clients during these uncertain times. To learn more, or to make a gift, please visit one.bidpal.net/childandfamilyriholidaybasicneeds/welcome “Our clients were struggling well before COVID-19 hit. The pandemic has exacerbated issues like homelessness, job loss, food insecurity, and substance use disorder that affect people’s ability to keep themselves and their families safe. At Child & Family we hold two core beliefs; that individuals and communities thrive when supported by strong families, and that a community works best when it is willing to accept responsivity for all their members. We are asking our Rhode Island community to help us support these families and children in crisis and to bring some joy into their lives.” --Marty Sinnott, President and CEO of Child & Family Stop & Shop and Walmart gift cards, and checks, can be dropped off at the Child & Family Middletown Community Center open Monday through Friday 8:30am to 3:30pm. Please make checks out to “Child & Family”. Gift cards and checks can also be mailed to the following address: Child & Family Attention: Landa Patterson 31 John Clarke Rd, Middletown, RI 02842 To learn more, or to make a gift online, please visit one.bidpal.net/childandfamilyriholidaybasicneeds/ welcome
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Brian Hickox CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM Elisabeth Hickox CERTIFIED INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT ANALYST ® 449 Thames St. Suite 301C Newport RI 02840 www.NewportCFP.com 401.236.2350 Securities and investment advisory services offered through Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. (RAA) member FINRA/SIPC. RAA is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of RAA.