Commerce Secretary Liz Tanner is stepping down to take a new job. What she'll be doing next.
Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Liz Tanner is stepping down this summer and will become executive director of a new nonprofit promoting the 2026 World Cup soccer tournament, Gov. Dan McKee announced Tuesday, June 3.
Tanner's departure was announced in a news release heralding the formation of the nonprofit Ocean State 2026, which McKee called a "major strategic move."
Her last day as commerce secretary will be July 4, at which point an interim will take over the state's economic development offices.
Ocean State 2026's job will be to ensure that "Rhode Island maximizes the exceptional economic opportunities" the World Cup tournament next June will provide," the release said.
The tournament is being held throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico with seven matches at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
'This world-class soccer event presents a major opportunity to showcase Rhode Island on the global stage – and we're ready to seize it,' McKee said in the news release. 'This new nonprofit will help ensure we're attracting visitors, supporting local businesses, and driving economic activity in the state."
At least so far, no Rhode Island site has been chosen as a training base for any national teams competing in the tournament, and there is no official fan festival event scheduled in the state.
Boston is an official host city, and a separate Boston 26 nonprofit has been set up as "the official Host City initiative."
Rhode Island General Treasurer James Diossa has led efforts to attract World Cup fans to Rhode Island and organize state planning around it.
Diossa will be chairman of the new Ocean State 2026.
It was not immediately clear who will provide funding for the new nonprofit.
Matt Touchette, spokesman for the Executive Office of Commerce, said no state money is expected to go into the World Cup effort. No private donation or lead sponsors have been announced.
Earlier this year, Diossa asked McKee for state funds to kickstart World Cup preparations, but the governor has not made any World-Cup-related budget request to state lawmakers.
'While we are still early in the planning process, I want to emphasize that the vast majority of funding for 'Ocean State 2026' will come from private contributions through a targeted fundraising effort," Diossa wrote in an email. "We're excited about the opportunity to celebrate Rhode Island's rich history and bright future, and our goal is to ensure that all 39 cities and towns feel well represented as well as reaping the benefits of this statewide initiative."
Touchette said he believed Tanner's new job as executive director would be paid, but did not know what the salary would be.
Diossa said Tanner's salary will not be paid with any state funds.
McKee's office did not respond to questions about Tanner, including whether the governor had asked her to step down as commerce secretary.
Tanner, who is set to make$ 238,597 this year, according to the state transparency portal, was one of McKee's key Cabinet members when he replaced Gina Raimondo as governor.
Before McKee appointed Tanner commerce secretary in 2022, replacing Stefan Pryor, she was director of the Department of Business Regulation.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI Commerce Secretary Tanner will resign to head World Cup nonprofit
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