Rhode Island

Rhode Island Department of State Opens Nominations for ‘Civic Teacher of the Year’ Award
PROVIDENCE, RI – Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore today announced that nominations are now open for the RI Department of State’s inaugural Civic Teacher of the Year award. The award will honor one outstanding teacher who has demonstrated a commitment to and expertise in teaching civics or American government, with special consideration given to teachers who employ innovative teaching practices and experiential learning opportunities for their students. Nominations can be made by a current student, teaching colleague, or administrator.
“As a former history and civics teacher myself, I know how critically important it is to educate our students on both our history and how to participate in our democracy,” said Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore. “I am excited to honor the outstanding professionals who do this work and to hear from their students and colleagues about their successes.”
Nominations must be submitted by 5PM on April 7, 2023 online at www.sos.ri.gov/teacheraward. To be eligible, nominees must be current, full-time teachers of civics or American government in grades 8–12.
For more information about the award and full eligibility details, visit www.sos.ri.gov/teacheraward.
El Departamento de Estado de Rhode Island Solicita Nominaciones para el Premio de Maestro de Educación Cívica del Año “Civic Teacher of the Year Award”
PROVIDENCE, RI – El día de hoy, el Secretario de Estado Gregg M. Amore anunció que se han abierto las nominaciones para el premio inaugural del Departamento de Estado para Maestro de Educación Cívica del Año. El premio honrará a un maestro excepcional que haya demostrado su compromiso y experiencia en la enseñanza de la educación cívica o del gobierno estadounidense, con consideración especial para aquellos maestros que emplean prácticas innovadoras y oportunidades de aprendizaje experiencial para sus estudiantes.
“Como exmaestro de la historia y de la educación cívica, sé lo sumamente importante que es educar a nuestros estudiantes tanto en nuestra historia, así como en la participación de nuestra democracia”, dijo el Secretario de Estado Gregg M. Amore. “Estoy emocionado de honrar a los destacados profesionales que hacen este trabajo y de escuchar de sus estudiantes y colegas acerca de sus éxitos”.
Las nominaciones deberán ser presentadas antes de las 5:00 p.m. del 7 de abril, 2023, por internet en www.sos.ri.gov/teacheraward. Para ser eligible, los nominados deben ser actualmente maestros de tiempo completo de la educación cívica o del gobierno estadounidense para los grados 8-12.
Para más información sobre el premio y todos los requisitos de elegibilidad, visite www.sos.ri.gov/teacheraward (página web en inglés).

PROVIDENCE, RI – Governor Dan McKee and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) today are announcing the availability of $270,000 in grants for farms and food-related organizations aimed at ensuring an abundant, affordable supply of nutritious fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, nuts, honey, and other “specialty crops” that are vital to Rhode Islanders’ health and well-being. DEM administers the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) with annual funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
“This grant program does two very important things at once: it supports small businesses, which are the glue of our communities, and helps expand our food system to become more resilient, secure, and sustainable,” said Governor Dan McKee. “Along with many other initiatives run by DEM including the Local Agriculture and Seafood Act program that we highlighted last week, the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program offers tangible benefits to both the grantees and all Rhode Islanders.”
“When I go to the grocery store or visit my local farmers’ market, I’m always looking for foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, and nuts. These are key components of maintaining a healthy diet and I know that most Rhode Islanders are looking for the same things,” said DEM Director Terry Gray. “DEM is always working to get more locally-grown food on the table and support local farmers and food businesses in becoming more competitive.”
Marketing is important to all enterprises, farming or otherwise, regardless of size. Generally, however, small-scale fruit, vegetable, and other specialty crop growers have more difficulty finding established markets than larger operations. Typically, they tailor their marketing to their unique situations. The SCBGP grants are designed to enhance these producers’ competitiveness. They may be used for increasing consumption through consumer awareness of Rhode Island-grown produce and plants through “buy local” promotions; creating new marketing opportunities for produce suppliers through nontraditional markets; research and development to introduce new crops to better match product availability with consumer demand; and increasing on-farm food safety practices for plants already grown and offered in the state. Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, horticulture, nursery crops, floriculture including Christmas trees, cut flowers, honey, hops, and turf grass production.
Possibly because of Newport’s popularity as a wedding destination, Rhode Island is becoming known for floriculture. This is a branch of horticulture concerned with growing and marketing flowers and ornamental plants, flower arrangement, and the cultivation and propagation of flowering plants for gardens, greenhouses, nurseries, and landscapes. Floriculture crops include bedding plants, houseplants, potted flowers, potted plants, cut cultivated greens, and cut flowers. DEM encourages floriculture businesses to apply for an SCBGP grant.
There is no maximum grant award and neither DEM nor the USDA requires a cost-sharing or matching requirement. Typically, the average award is between $35,000 and $50,000. All projects are subject to the availability of funds. Grant funds cannot be expended before Sept. 30, 2023, or after Sept. 29, 2026. Due to limited funding, DEM reserves the right to offer an award amount less than the amount requested. Applications will be accepted through March 15. Please apply using this link.
Since 2016, DEM has awarded more than $1 million in grants through the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. SCBGP assists state departments of agriculture in the 50 States, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. For more information on the DEM SCBGP, click here.
For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates.