Lt. Governor Dan McKee: 20 Who Made a Difference in 20

Lt. Governor Dan McKee: 20 Who Made a Difference in 20

It was a breakout year for Lt. Governor Dan McKee. While the Lt. Governor had made a bit of a name for himself for taking on National Grid by raising questions about the rates and service, few knew the activist side.

Not any more. McKee took on Governor Gina Raimondo, legislative leaders and many others pounding the drumbeat for small business owners.

McKee has owned, operated and even nearly bankrupt small businesses during economic downturns.

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During the pandemic he established himself as the leading voice for small business people in Rhode Island.

In May on GoLocal LIVE, McKee said, “Every state in the country received some CARES Act money that was designated to the state.  In the guidelines -  very short guidelines - one of the allowable uses is to help small businesses that have been negatively impacted by the coronavirus.” 

And he pressed, "So we have a lot of flexibility [with federal funds] there's $1.25 billion…there's no reason why you can't put a $100 million of that fund out in a way that can go out...as smaller types of grants, and stagger it so that the priority becomes the businesses who have not been allowed to open.” 

Ultimately, Raimondo agreed.

Look for McKee to build off this new base in a run for Governor in 2022.