9 Months After Washington Bridge Failure, McKee Admin Has Provided No Grants to Small Businesses

9 Months After Washington Bridge Failure, McKee Admin Has Provided No Grants to Small Businesses

On Monday, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee held another press conference about supporting small businesses impacted by the failure of the Washington Bridge  — it was one of more than a half dozen press events that have been held on the topic. 

A GoLocal review has uncovered that in the nine months since the closure, the McKee administration has to date not provided one dollar in grants to businesses impacted.

GoLocal also confirmed that McKee never asked legislative leaders to move a free-stand funding bill addressing the issue forward.

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Only now can a business even apply for grant money — months later. The total amount of assistance, if provided, is capped at $2500. 

As the months ticked off following the closure of 195 westbound lanes in December 2023, numerous businesses have closed, citing the adverse impact.

During COVID, McKee blasted former Governor — and now U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo — less than three months after the virus hit Rhode Island for the failure to create a small business grant program.

McKee, during an appearance on GoLocal LIVE, warned that the average small business had just 27 days of cash flow, and for many Rhode Island small businesses, they had exhausted those funds even if they received the federal Payroll Protection Program (PPP) funds.

 

 

McKee said in May of 2020 that small business owners should target Raimondo’s office with phone calls.

“The Governor's office should receive a deluge of phone calls saying release those federal dollars that you have the flexibility to release and be real aggressive at it. My belief is you should be targeting it towards the businesses that you clearly can define have been impacted the most — if you haven't been able to open your business up to this point, you've been impacted,” said McKee.

But now as governor, McKee seems to have forgotten those lessons.

 

Failed to Deliver for Small Businesses

On December 19, 2023 — less than a week after the westbound Washington Bridge was closed down — McKee had one of his many press conferences pledging support for small businesses impacted by the bridge’s failure.

”Getting our small businesses back on track and delivering the help they need is vital," said  McKee. 

At the press conference the federal Small Business Administration announced a loan program and while some loans were provided by the federal government. no grant money was available.

Then, more press conferences.

On January 9, 2024, almost a month after the Washington Bridge’s closure, McKee held another press conference about the federal loan program but did not offer loans.

For many of the small businesses impacted, they lost sales and revenue and taking on more debt is of little help.

More and more small businesses asked for grants to stop the economic bleeding. Multiple businesses have been forced to close citing the impact of the bridge including Minerva’s Pizza, Salted Slate, Noodles 102 — all more than a decade old.

 

McKee Fails to Push Legislation

Instead of pushing legislative leaders to immediately pass a grant program, McKee put the request in the budget — a long laborious process and in modern political history, the budget is adopted by the General Assembly in June and sometimes later in Rhode Island.

GoLocal has confirmed that McKee never reached out to legislative leaders to urge the early passage of the grant program.

More businesses failed, and McKee held more press conferences.

 

 

Why Did It Take Two More Months

GoLocal asked the Commerce Corporation and McKee’s office if the budget passed in June and became law on July, has it taken two additional months.

"The FY25 budget, which allocated $2.6 million in funds to assist impacted small businesses, became law on July 1. Once the budget became law, Rhode Island Commerce began collaborating with the Cities of East Providence and Providence on the details of the grant programs—to ensure alignment—and a successful launch. The application portal for all three entities is now live," said Matthew Touchette, Director of Communications.

The program was further delayed because it needed the approval of the Commerce Corporation Board.

When asked why the coordination with the cities and the approval by the Commerce Board could not have been done in April or May and be conditional to the July 1 budget date, Touchette had no response.

Businesses need to rush to apply. Deadline is September 24. CLICK HERE.