Rhode Island Commerce Awards More Than $400K to Small Businesses for Energy Efficiency Upgrades

Published on Monday, September 23, 2024

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation announced today that is has awarded more than $400,000 for energy efficiency improvements under the RI Rebounds Energy Efficiency Program to help small businesses and nonprofits reduce their energy costs.  

The Energy Efficiency Program reimbursed eligible small businesses and nonprofits for energy-saving projects that included new LED lighting and controls, air sealing and building insulation, water saving devices, electric panel updates, and HVAC installation and improvements.

Energy Efficiency Program by Numbers 
•    $421,868 in grants 
•    Average grant size of $6,500 
•    64 businesses awarded grants 
•    46% women or minority owned

“By supporting small businesses with essential energy efficiency upgrades, we’re enabling them to make improvements that drive down costs and reduce emissions,” said Secretary of Commerce Liz Tanner. “These investments not only benefit our environment but also put savings back into the hands of local business owners.”

Rhode Island Commerce partnered with RISE Engineering and Rhode Island Energy’s existing Small Business Program to provide no cost energy assessments and maximize available incentives from both programs for small businesses. Small businesses were given the option to work with RISE or a private contractor registered in the State of Rhode Island. 

“The partnership between Rhode Island Commerce, Rhode Island Energy, and RISE is a great example of how our programs can be leveraged together to reduce costs while, most importantly, strengthening Rhode Island small businesses,“ said David Moreira, Head of Programs & Connections at Rhode Island Energy. 

“We are gratified by the strong positive feedback we’ve heard from participants of the program and appreciate the opportunity to have offered our support to help make efficiency improvements more accessible and affordable for small businesses,” said Vin Graziano, President of RISE Engineering. 

“As a 40-year-old small business in East Providence, we are always looking for ways to upgrade our facility without taking away from our bottom line. Rhode Island Commerce’s Energy Efficiency Program was hassle-free and helped us modernize our repair shop’s decades old electrical panel and wiring,” said John Vargas, Owner at Vargas Auto Service. 

RI Rebounds is a statewide initiative to invest in Rhode Island’s children, families, workers, housing, and small business owners through utilization of the American Rescue Plan State Fiscal Recovery Funds. It includes funds to assist small businesses as well as the hard-hit tourism, hospitality, and event industries impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. RI Rebounds is made possible thanks to the strong support of Governor McKee and the Rhode Island General Assembly.

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