Rhode Island Receives $10.6M Tourism Grant

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island received a $10.6 million grant for tourism, Gov. Dan McKee announced this week. The funding, which comes from the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, will be used to support projects, businesses, and jobs in the travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation sectors.

The money comes from the American Rescue Plan Act, and is part of President Joe Biden's Build Back Better plan.

"We are so glad to share the good news that Rhode Island will be getting more than $10 million to help our tourism and hospitality industries, and all of our small businesses in those areas," McKee said. "This sector has been severely impacted by the pandemic, and these funds will go a long way in ensuring this sector not only bounces back but is even stronger going forward. Visitors from around the world love visiting our state, and it’s part of who we are. This investment will help ensure the Ocean State continues to be a viable and attractive destination for years to come. We thank Secretary Raimondo and the Biden Administration for these resources and for recognizing the importance of this funding to our state."

The state's grant proposal included the following objectives, McKee's office said.

• Increased paid advertising in partnership with our tourism regions and airport to support marketing campaigns to attract new, overnight visitors.
• Technology upgrades and improvements to the Visit Rhode Island website and websites of the state’s tourism regions.
• Development of new attractions and destination events, particularly to boost year-round visitation.
• A strategic analysis to focus on improving accessibility throughout state and its attractions.

"Tourism is a foundational part of Rhode Island’s economy," Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor said. "This industry not only supports thousands of jobs, it also attracts more than $7 billion in spending annually. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted so many elements of this important industry, but this grant will help the state recover and become even more resilient as we continue to emerge post-pandemic."

Tourism accounts for 13.7 percent of the total private sector jobs in the state. Before the pandemic hit, Rhode Island saw more than 26 million visitors, with the travel economy totaling around $7 billion. Since the pandemic hit, jobs in the industry have fallen by more than 60 percent, McKee's office said.