Gov. Dan McKee is seeking $1.3 million in state aid to help small businesses impacted by the ongoing Washington Bridge reconstruction project.
McKee said Monday that he has filed an amendment to his proposed state budget that would redirect $1.3 million in State Fiscal Recovery Funds to help small businesses in the affected area. The funds would be distributed in the form of direct grants or other business supports.
Of the $1.3 million, $600,000 would go toward city aid in East Providence, and $400,000 would go toward city aid in Providence. The state would also set aside $300,000 for a contingency fund that would help other cities impacted by the bridge reconstruction. McKee said that the state would re-distribute the funds to Providence and East Providence if the combined need in other communities doesn’t exceed $300,000.
“I know what it’s like to run a small business and be confronted with challenges. We must all get behind the businesses impacted by the Washington Bridge to ensure their continued success for many years to come,” McKee said in a statement.
The governor’s proposal is in addition to a $400,000 marketing campaign aimed at promoting the state’s hotel tax to help businesses in the affected area.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.
