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Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
R.I. Commerce commits nearly $1M to HISTORY Channel deal
A mural designed by James Allen King of Scituate on the interior of dome of the Rhode Island State House depicts Roger Williams and his followers meeting Native Americans. (Photo by Janine L. Weisman/Rhode Island Current) State tourism officials plan to spend nearly $1 million to promote Rhode Island on the HISTORY Channel through next July as the network commemorates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation has partnered with the HISTORY Channel to air commercials promoting the first state to declare independence from Great Britain as part of the networks' 'History Honors 250' campaign. The deal is the network's first with any state, according to the corporation's April 25 announcement. 'You can't tell the story of America without telling the story of Rhode Island,' Gov. Dan McKee said in a statement. 'Showcasing Rhode Island's rich HISTORY through this partnership with the HISTORY Channel not only honors our state's heritage — it drives tourism and strengthens our local economy.' 'History Honors 250' will share Rhode Island's role in American HISTORY through specially produced segments to air on the cable network, along with ads during select prime-time shows. But the Commerce Corporation is keeping hush on what historic moments will be featured in the $965,000 campaign. Spokesperson Matt Touchette said ads were still being developed by a third-party company as of Tuesday afternoon. He declined to name the third party company, saying the terms of the contract are confidential. 'When we're ready to release more details, I'll be sure to let you know,' Touchette said in an email. Meanwhile, in response to an inquiry from Rhode Island Current, McKee's office offered via email: 'The Governor is excited to see the rich history of Rhode Island showcased nationally—including the legacy of Roger Williams and the Burning of the Gaspee.' Rhode Island's partnership with the HISTORY Channel will include themed editorial articles and video content posted online, as well as social media engagement through branded posts and influencer collaborations, Touchette said. The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation will hold a sweepstakes, which the HISTORY Channel will promote on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook along with an interactive trivia unit to highlight the state's historic milestones, cultural contributions, and notable figures. The ad campaign is scheduled to kick off May 22 and run through July 5, 2026. 'Rhode Island holds a pivotal role in the rich tapestry of our nation's HISTORY, and we are excited to craft engaging content that not only resonates with audiences today but also inspires future generations,' Niki Mandell, vice president of media solutions at A+E Global Media, HISTORY Channel's parent company, said in a statement. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Boston Globe
25-04-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
R.I. senator's bill would require two-thirds majority for Commerce Corp. financing, after tight Tidewater stadium vote
Supporters said that action was needed to keep the project moving forward in the face of Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Earlier this month, the developer Advertisement But Zurier, a Providence Democrat, has introduced In his April 20 district newsletter, Zurier explained his rationale, saying the razor-thin margin of that 2022 vote was an outlier. Over the last four years, the board has voted on 203 resolutions, and the Tidewater Landing vote was the only one that didn't receive at least two-thirds of the vote, he said. Advertisement 'This vote stuck out like a sore thumb,' Zurier told the Globe. 'From an institutional standpoint, it's not ideal. It happened on a divided vote, with the governor breaking a tie and two abstentions. It seemed it might be beneficial that they operate by consensus going forward.' He noted that the project's financing has 'generated significant controversy.' He cited reports that the state originally planned to provide the developer with $27 million in capital from a bond that would generate $37 million in financing costs. When the bond was finally sold, Related : 'I think it was at a minimum an extraordinarily inefficient way to complete the financing,' Zurier said. 'Certainly, there were easier alternatives in terms of a General Assembly expenditure or bond.' He said that during a Senate Finance Committee meeting last year, he asked Commerce Corporation Director Elizabeth M. Tanner if the board could adopt an internal rule requiring a third-thirds supermajority for all major votes. He said she did not think the Commerce Corporation had the authority to make such a rule. Zurier said he disagreed with Tanner's conclusion, but that led him to propose the bill to require a two-thirds vote in the future. He said the proposed legislation 'offers a surgically precise solution to the problems raised by that vote.' Advertisement The bill has been referred to the Senate Commerce Committee, which has held it for further study. When asked for comment on the bill, McKee press secretary Olivia DaRocha said, 'The governor will review the bill if it reaches his desk.' Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
R.I. Commerce offers up to $12,500 grants for manufacturing equipment
Rhode Island Commerce is accepting applications through March 24 from local manufacturing companies eligible to receive grants equal to half the $25,000 cost of capital equipment. Rhode Island manufacturers can get reimbursement for up to half the cost of new capital equipment or machinery under a new state program unveiled Thursday. The Manufacturing Equipment Grant Program administered by Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, offers grants reimbursing local manufacturing companies for up to 50% of the costs of new equipment, capped at $12,500 per applicant based on a $25,000 maximum equipment or machinery price. Applications are available online now, with grants awarded based on scores set by a review committee of Commerce employees and industry partners, Matt Touchette, a Commerce spokesperson, said in an email Friday. The program is funded through a $500,000 allocation of general revenue included in the state's fiscal 2025 budget, Touchette said. Recipients must be Rhode Island-based manufacturing companies established on or before Jan. 1, 2021, with 50 or fewer employees and gross receipts less than $5 million in 2023. The program aims to help the state's manufacturing sector remain competitive, recognizing feedback and concerns of local business owners, Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Liz Tanner said in a statement. 'By easing the financial burden of modernization, we are empowering businesses to be competitive, efficient, and innovative — all things that help drive economic growth,' Tanner said. The state's manufacturing sector was responsible for 40,900 jobs in December, a 600-job increase from the prior year, according to the latest monthly jobs report from the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. Applications close on Monday, March 24. Correction: The headline on this story has been updated to reflect that grants of up to $12,500 may be awarded through the program. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
