Latest news with #OceanState2026
Business Journals
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Journals
Rhode Island commerce secretary to lead new World Cup-focused economic initiative
Liz Tanner, the RI Commerce Secretary, will step down to lead Ocean State 2026, an effort to capitalize on the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
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
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New nonprofit to focus on maximizing local benefits of 2026 FIFA World Cup
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The four-year wait is almost over for the next World Cup, and local soccer fans are ready to get a front-row seat. However, there's a lot of planning that needs to be done before kickoff, as the event will be one of the biggest the region has ever seen. Kristen Adamo, the president and CEO of the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, describes it as the soccer equivalent of seven Super Bowls in six weeks. 'If something goes wrong, the whole world knows it,' Adamo said. 'It's really important for us to keep everybody safe, to keep everybody happy and to have a really good experience while they're here.' That's also why the new nonprofit, Ocean State 2026, was created: to make sure Rhode Island benefits the most from the $1 billion economic boom expected in the New England region. Commerce Secretary Liz Tanner is stepping away from her cabinet role in order to take on the challenge as the nonprofit's executive director. RELATED: RI commerce secretary steps down to lead nonprofit She expects around 800,000 people will be coming to the region to watch the matches held at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, which is why she plans to highlight the perks only found in Rhode Island. 'There will be games to the south of us and north of us, so the ability to stay in Rhode Island and be able to get to those locations, whether by rail or by car, is going to make it ultra impressive,' Tanner explained. 'Also, we've got the best beaches around, and so people will be able to stay here in Rhode Island, see the games and get to the beaches as well.' Tanner said her focus will be on the fan experience, which is why she'll be looking for business sponsorships and ways for convention bureaus and tourism partners to host events. She'll also be responsible for making sure event rules are being followed. Adamo said she's looking forward to collaborating with Ocean State 2026 to make sure fans come to Rhode Island. 'Once we have more funding available, that gives us more money to do planning, more marketing, more events all over the state,' Adamo said. 'Because what we want to happen is that they're coming here for the first time, they love Rhode Island, and maybe they come back.' Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
RI commerce secretary steps down to lead nonprofit
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Liz Tanner will be ending her time with the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation at the beginning of next month. In an announcement on Tuesday morning, Gov. Dan McKee shared that Tanner stepped down from her role as Secretary of Commerce to head Ocean State 2026, a new nonprofit focused on 'maximizing the economic opportunities' next year's World Cup matches at nearby Gillette Stadium will bring to Rhode Island. 'It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the people of Rhode Island as Secretary of Commerce under Governor McKee's leadership,' Tanner said in a statement. 'I look forward to continuing my service to the State of Rhode Island in this new role, helping ensure our state makes the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.' RELATED: Providence leaders 'actively involved' in conversations to host 2026 World Cup team McKee praised Tanner's 'commitment to strengthening our economy and supporting local businesses' and said he will name an interim secretary of commerce before July 4, Tanner's final day in the role. Rhode Island General Treasurer James Diossa will serve as chairman of Ocean State 2026's board. 'This is bigger than soccer,' Diossa said in a release. 'It's about investing in our state's future and ensuring every community gets to benefit.' The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by cities across the U.S., Mexico and Canada, with the opening match played on June 11, 2026, in Mexico City and the final played July 19, 2026, at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium). Boston will host seven matches at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, with the earliest on June 13 and the latest a quarterfinal matchup on July 9. MORE: Providence leaders sound alarm over 'jam-packed' summer next year with World Cup Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New state nonprofit launched to help Rhode Island score big in 2026 World Cup
Rhode Island officials have launched a new nonprofit, Ocean State 2026, to take advantage of tourism during the 2026 World Cup matches at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, pictured. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) State officials are forming a new nonprofit to help maximize local tourism and economic development for the state from the 2026 World Cup, which includes matches at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Ocean State 2026 will be led by Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Liz Tanner, who is stepping down from her cabinet position to spearhead the efforts of the new nonprofit. Rhode Island General Treasurer James Diossa will serve as chair of the nonprofit board of directors. The preparations come a year before an estimated 1 million international soccer fans are expected to travel through the Providence metro area during the seven World Cup matches hosted at Gillette, from June 13 to July 9. The Boston-area stadium is one of 16 host cities for the three-country, 48-match tournament, which spans North America. The Massachusetts matches are expected to generate more than $330 million in local economic impact, according to Gov. Dan McKee's office. Ocean State 2026 will lead business sponsorship efforts on tournament-related activities in Rhode Island while serving as a central organizer between state and local agencies, chambers of commerce, tourism bureaus and the FIFA World Cup Boston host committee before, during and after the tournament. 'Next year's international soccer matches at Gillette Stadium will bring thousands of tourists, spending millions of dollars in our cities and towns,' Diossa said in a statement. 'It truly offers an unprecedented opportunity to showcase our state while maximizing economic impact. This is bigger than soccer; it's about investing in our state's future and ensuring every community gets to benefit.' While Diossa will remain in his elected general officer role, Tanner is leaving her $238,600-a-year appointed job as Commerce secretary, which she has held since June 2022. Tanner in a statement said she looked forward to continuing to serve the state in her new role, which she called a 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.' Tanner's career in state government dates back to 2015, when she began working in client services for Commerce. From 2017 to 2022, she led the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, overseeing state financial services, cannabis regulation, building code and compliance and the Office of the State Fire Marshal, alongside a variety of professional licenses. During her three years as Commerce secretary, she oversaw expansion of broadband infrastructure through a $100 million federal grant program, alongside small business supports, including those to aid business owners affected by the Washington Bridge closure and demolition. Her last day as Commerce secretary will be July 4. An interim secretary will be named by that time, McKee's office said. Information about the search and appointment for a new, permanent Commerce secretary was not immediately available. Matt Touchette, a spokesperson for Commerce, declined to share Tanner's new salary with Ocean State 2026, noting that the nonprofit does not rely on state funding. Updated to include a response to questions about Liz Tanner's salary with Ocean State 2026. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
