Rhode Island Commerce

It's GOAL time! The PVD FanZone officially opened yesterday, just ahead of the first game of the World Cup. Secretary Stefan Pryor joined Mayor Brett Smiley and Governor Dan McKee alongside state and local leaders for celebration. Commerce is excited to support Rhode Island's Summer of Soccer and welcome fans from across the globe to experience all that the Ocean State has to offer as they cheer on their favorite teams.

A major step forward for our state — and for our nation. Earlier this week, Raytheon/RTX broke ground on a significant expansion at its Portsmouth facility. This $100M expansion will add 150 jobs, enable critical testing of its LTAMDS threat tracking and interception radar system, and increase the production of Patriot® GEM-T missile subcomponents.

Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor and Commerce Corp. President & CEO Jim Bennett joined Governor Dan McKee, Raytheon, U.S. Army Leadership, and RI’s federal delegation for the celebration. Commerce is proud to support Raytheon’s expansion, including through the consideration of Qualified Jobs tax credits and enrollment in the RI Ready site-readiness program.

View Raytheon’s press release here: https://www.rtx.com/news/news-center/2026/06/08/rtx-invests-100-million-to-accelerate-radar-testing-and-interceptor-production-i

We're a week away from "The AI Infrastructure Race: How States Compete, Build, and Win," hosted by FountainHead RI.

Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor will deliver opening remarks to kick off an evening of conversation, collaboration, and insight with industry experts on the future of AI Infrastructure and how Rhode Island will meet the moment.

There is still time to secure your tickets to this event. Learn more and register here: https://eventbrite.com/e/fountainhead-ris-summer-2026-educational-panel-and-networking-event-tickets-1983453033416?aff=oddtdtcreator

Last Thursday, Governor Dan McKee, Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor, and RI Commerce Corp President & CEO Jim Bennett led a strategic Commerce Corp Board retreat. The presentations and conversations focused on current economic trends, AI-related implications and opportunities, and preparing RI’s workforce for the future.

Thank you to OPC Commissioner Shannon Gilkey and RIDLT Director Matt Weldon for joining to share your insights, and to Baby Delight for hosting us. Together we are charting Rhode Island’s continued economic growth.

Congratulations to the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association - RIMA on its Annual Breakfast and Meeting held earlier this week! A tremendous crowd representing Rhode Island's manufacturing leaders and innovators gathered to celebrate our state's rich manufacturing history as well as its inspiring future.

In the photo: Secretary Stefan Pryor, RIMA President and CEO Melissa Travis, and SBA local and regional leadership.

Last Saturday, GrowSmartRI held the fifth workshop with its inaugural RI Main Street Learning Cohort, focused on transformation strategies to revitalize and encourage economic activity in local commercial districts.

Stefan Pryor joined for part of the session, meeting Kathy LaPlante and Miriam Parson from the national Main Street America program as well as having conversations with municipal staff and residents participating in the cohort. Thank you Grow Smart RI, for this opportunity and your work!

Rhode Island Commerce Corporation Awards $800,000 in Innovation Network Matching Grants to 13 organizations.

Governor McKee Announces Innovation Grants for Small Business and High-Growth Startup Support Providence, R.I.

Rhode Island Commerce is soliciting input for the next round of Opportunity Zones. The federal Opportunity Zones program encourages investment within designated Rhode Island communities by providing capital gains tax incentives for private investors.

Municipalities, community leaders, investors, developers, trade and building associations, labor representatives, and members of the public are invited to submit input via the Commerce website now through June 23, 2026.

Learn more and submit recommendations here: https://commerceri.com/site-selection/opportunity-zones/

📸: Seth Holme
195 District

Celebrating General Dynamics Electric Boat “Signing Day” event at Cranston West High School last week. Rhode Island is preparing the next generation of our workforce, and these students are ready!

Over 400 high school students from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Louisiana, and Virginia began their career with General Dynamics – Electric Boat Quonset Point.

Governor Dan McKee joined the event to welcome these new Electric Boat employees and their families.

Congratulations to all the students who will begin their careers with the State of Rhode Island and General Dynamics Electric Boat/Quonset Point.

Mark your Calendars for June 11th.

We are excited to support FountainHeadRI
as they present The AI Infrastructure Race: How States Compete, Build, and Win.

Join leaders from across AI, infrastructure, energy, finance, technology, and economic development for an exciting series of conversations and networking opportunities.

Learn more and get tickets:

FountainHead RI's Summer 2026 Educational Panel and Networking Event Powerful convening on AI & data center infrastructure. Rare opportunity to engage directly w/ the people shaping where and how it is built.