FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 27, 2022

SMITHFIELD ANNOUNCES THE
SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM

Officials earmark $100,000 in ARPA Funding available through a competitive grant

SMITHFIELD, RI – The Smithfield Town Council announced today the launch of Smithfield Small Business Relief Grant Program made possible with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021.  ARPA funding was approved by Congress to fund eligible state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments.  Federal guidance directs funding to be used for acute pandemic response needs, fill revenue shortfalls among these governments, and support the communities and populations hardest-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The total allocation for the Town of Smithfield is approximately $6.545 million.

Town Council President Suzy Alba Town Council President Suzy Alba stated “In the Town’s proposal to spend the ARPA funding, the Town Council unanimously approved $100,000 for the Smithfield Small Business Relief Grant Program to support local businesses. We hope that this little bit of help can go a long way in aiding our businesses that need an extra hand to remain thriving”.

Council Vice President Sean Kilduff stated “The Town had some discretion within the spending rules issued by Congress and one priority was to develop a program to aid Smithfield businesses hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.”  

As stated in the Town’s ARPA spending plan, the goal of this grant program is to provide micro-grants to businesses within the Town of Smithfield and support economic recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Individual grants of $3,000, subject to change based on other considerations, will be provided to those businesses that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and who meet the necessary qualifications.

Applying for the funds is simple and an on-line application for the program will be available online at www.smithfieldri.com/sbrgp beginning on June 1^st.  Qualified Smithfield businesses who suffered a loss in revenue are encouraged to apply for the grant.  Submitted applications will be reviewed and evaluated by Town staff.  Recipients will be notified of awards and the program will continue until all funds have been distributed.

Small businesses eligible for the Smithfield Small Business Assistance Grant Program are those that experienced negative economic impacts or disproportionate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and meet the definition of a small business.  Specifically, applicants need to meet the following criteria:

 

• Have been established and recognized by the Town of Smithfield by December 31, 2019.
• Be in good standing with the Town of Smithfield.
• Have no more than 240 employees.
• Business must have less than $1 million in “gross receipts or sales” in 2020 or 2021.
• The business experienced revenue loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This may include revenue loss experienced during 2020 or at any time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Business is NOT owned by a nationally or regionally owned franchise.
• Business is NOT in or considering federal bankruptcy or state receivership or on the federal do not pay list.

Recipients can identify small businesses impacted by the pandemic, and measures to respond, in many ways; for example, recipients could considers:

• Decreased revenue or gross receipts
• Financial insecurity
• Increased costs
• Capacity to weather financial hardship
• Challenges covering payroll, rent or mortgage, and other operating costs.

 

Assistance to small businesses that experienced negative economic impacts includes the following enumerated uses:

• Loans or grants to mitigate financial hardship, such as supporting payroll or benefits, costs to retain employees, and mortgage, rent, utility, and other operating costs.

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation is currently performing I-295 bridge projects in Smithfield. Due to these projects, Route 44 and Route 7 over I-295 will reduce travel from two lanes to one.

• Construction and alternating lane closures on Route 44/Putnam Pike
  
  The Rhode Island Department of Transportation will begin construction on Putnam Pike bridge that overpasses Route 295 on April 22.  The overnight construction project begins at 9:00PM and continues until 5:00AM until the project is complete later this summer.  The project is part of the statewide rehabilitation of Rhode Island’s aging bridges. 

• Construction and alternating lane closures on Route 7/Douglas Pike
  
  Additionally, RIDOT has closed the I-295 on-ramp from Route 7/Douglas Pike southbound. This closure will remain in place until the Fall of this year. Motorists will follow a signed detour that will lead them to the following exit, which will then lead them to an immediate exit on I-295 northbound, returning back on to Route 7 northbound, and getting back on to I-295 southbound from there. Please refer to the map image in this article below, or also view it here. RIDOT recommends that drivers plan additional travel time and reduce speeds through the work zone, which has begun in April and will end in November.

The Town of Smithfield has established a public notice registry allowing any person or entity to register for electronic notice (email) of any public hearing related to changes to the local regulations related to subdivision of land and for any public hearing related to zoning ordinance amendments.  Register  your email address below in the form or on the Town Planner page (left column).

Please note that after your email address is submitted, a confirmation email will be sent and you must reply to confirm.

Public Notice Registry Sign up

[wysija_form id=”3″]