Last verified November 9, 2026 · How we verify

Rhode Island grants for small businesses: state programs and more

RI grants for small businesses come from the state, from national funders and from federal agencies. As of November 2026, a Rhode Island small business can be matched against 79 programs: 10 Rhode Island state programs, 5 multi-state programs that include Rhode Island, 63 national programs open to RI businesses, and 1 federal grants via Grants.gov.

You could win up to $150,000 from Matching Grants for Federal Funds, open now. We'll write the application. It's one of 4 open grants here we can write. Write it for me, $25

We track 10 Rhode Island state programs. 6 are open or verified right now and named below. Most of these programs never run an ad. The money is real, but nobody tells you it exists. That's the part we fixed.

Rhode Island state programs

National programs open to RI businesses

Federal grants via Grants.gov

Rhode Island programs by the numbers

Who funds them: 3 funders: Rhode Island Commerce (4), Rhode Island Science and Technology Advisory Council (Innovate Rhode Island Small Business Fund) (1), Rhode Island Science and Technology Advisory Council (Innovate RI Fund) (1).
Award size: Most awards $4K to $120K.
Timing: 4 open now, 3 of them rolling. Soonest deadline: Renewable Energy Fund, Dec 11, 2026. 2 between cycles; Rhode Island SBIR/STTR Phase I Matching Grants lists its next window as “April 6, 2027 (per page)”.
What they fund: Technology (2), Healthcare (1); 4 open to any industry.

You could win up to $150,000 from Matching Grants for Federal Funds, open now. We'll write the application.

Answer a few questions and get a full draft, checked by our own AI review. Need more than one? 10 for $97, and unused ones never expire.

It's one of 4 open grants here we can write.

Write it for me, $25

No sign-up first. After you pay, we email a code to start your draft.

Don't qualify for this grant? Full refund within 14 days (one per customer).

All 6 Rhode Island state programs we can name

Only Rhode Island's own programs, open ones first. Each names its funder and links to the official page. Annual programs spend most of the year between windows; the date tells you when to be ready.

Program	Amount	Status	Built for	Official link
Matching Grants for Federal Funds Rhode Island Commerce Verified Oct 25, 2026	up to $3,000 / up to $75,000 / up to $150,000 / up to $6,500	Rolling, apply anytime	Rhode Island state program providing grants to small businesses to offset SBIR/STTR application costs, match federal Phase I/II awards (up to $75,000/$150,000), and fund internships (up to $6,500). Administered by the RI Science & Technology Advisory Council (STAC).	Write it for me, $25 Official page (opens in a new tab)See how this fits my business →
STAC Internship Program Rhode Island Commerce Verified Nov 4, 2026	up to $6,500	Rolling, apply anytime	Grants up to $6,500 for companies in life sciences and engineering sectors to defray costs of providing student internships and mentoring to eligible Rhode Island residents attending college or university in Rhode Island.	Write it for me, $25 Official page (opens in a new tab)See how this fits my business →
Rhode Island Phase 0 Grants to Defray SBIR/STTR Application Costs Rhode Island Science and Technology Advisory Council (Innovate Rhode Island Small Business Fund) For businesses with 50 employees or fewer Only for Rhode Island for-profits (50 or fewer staff) that have submitted a federal SBIR/STTR Phase I proposal. Reimburses up to 50% of prep costs, max $3,000 (spend first). Verified Oct 30, 2026	Up to $3,000 (reimbursement of up to 50% of eligible proposal-preparation costs)	Rolling, apply anytime	Reimburses a Rhode Island for-profit small business for up to 50% of the direct costs of preparing a federal Phase I SBIR/STTR proposal, up to $3,000. Accepted on a rolling basis until funds run out.	Write it for me, $25 Official page (opens in a new tab)See how this fits my business →
Renewable Energy Fund Rhode Island Commerce Verified Nov 9, 2026	Varies	Closes Dec 11, 2026	Rhode Island's Renewable Energy Fund provides grant funding to businesses and homeowners for small-scale and commercial-scale solar PV projects, as well as community renewable energy and brownfield solar installations. Funded through the system benefit charge on electric bills, REF helps Rhode Island businesses and communities access cost-effective, sustainable energy solutions while supporting green job growth.	Write it for me, $25 Official page (opens in a new tab)See how this fits my business →
Rhode Island SBIR/STTR Phase I Matching Grants Rhode Island Science and Technology Advisory Council (Innovate RI Fund) Only for RI companies that have received an SBIR/STTR Phase I award and are still active in Phase I. Verified Oct 30, 2026	Matching grants of up to $75,000	Opens April 2027	Matching grants of up to $75,000 for Rhode Island companies with an active SBIR/STTR Phase I award, twice a year; a lottery runs if requests exceed funds.	See how this fits my business →Official page (opens in a new tab)
Invention Incentive Program Rhode Island Commerce For businesses with 500 employees or fewer Verified Nov 5, 2026	up to $5,000	Between cycles Usually opens around April 2027, based on past rounds	RI small businesses and inventors covering patent costs	See how this fits my business →Official page (opens in a new tab)

We track 4 more Rhode Island programs that are not open, dated or verified closely enough to name here yet. The quiz still checks your business against them.

Multi-state programs that include Rhode Island

Each of these covers more than three states, so we list them here instead of counting them as Rhode Island state programs.

Northeast SARE Farmer Grant
Northeast SARE
Only for farmers running an on-farm research or demonstration project on a sustainable practice.
Covers 12 states (plus DC), including RI
Awards range from $5,000 to $50,000 · Closes Dec 8, 2026 · Official page ↗
Northeast SARE Partnership Grant
Northeast SARE
You work with farmers as an educator, researcher or ag service provider and will partner with at least one Northeast farmer on the project.
Covers 12 states (plus DC), including RI
Up to $30,000 · Reopens, date not announced yet · Official page ↗
Northeast Dairy Farm Improvement and Modernization Grant
Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets)
Only for dairy farms, dairy producer associations and dairy service providers in the 11 Northeast states. Two-stage application.
Open in 11 states, including RI
Amount not stated · Reopens, date not announced yet · Official page ↗
Northeast Dairy Processor Modernization Grant
Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets)
Only for licensed dairy processors or dairy brands based in the 11 Northeast states that use Northeast milk.
Open in 11 states, including RI
Total funds available: $1,000,000 · Between cycles (Usually opens around Fall 2027, based on past rounds) · Official page ↗

We track 1 more multi-state program that includes Rhode Island and is not open, dated or verified closely enough to name here yet.

Also open to RI businesses: 63 national programs and 1 federal grants via Grants.gov. They are the same in every state, so we list them by who they fund: women-owned, veteran-owned, minority-owned, or by industry.

Every verified grant deadline in the next 90 days is on one page: the live deadlines list.

Open right now in Rhode Island

Matching Grants for Federal Funds: up to $3,000 / up to $75,000 / up to $150,000 / up to $6,500, rolling, apply anytime
STAC Internship Program: up to $6,500, rolling, apply anytime
Rhode Island Phase 0 Grants to Defray SBIR/STTR Application Costs: Up to $3,000 (reimbursement of up to 50% of eligible proposal-preparation costs), rolling, apply anytime
Renewable Energy Fund: Varies, closes Dec 11, 2026

Rhode Island small business grants, program by program

Matching Grants for Federal Funds (Rhode Island Commerce): up to $3,000 / up to $75,000 / up to $150,000 / up to $6,500

Rhode Island state program providing grants to small businesses to offset SBIR/STTR application costs, match federal Phase I/II awards (up to $75,000/$150,000), and fund internships (up to $6,500). Administered by the RI Science & Technology Advisory Council (STAC). Verified against the funder's own page Oct 25, 2026. Official page ↗

STAC Internship Program (Rhode Island Commerce): up to $6,500

Grants up to $6,500 for companies in life sciences and engineering sectors to defray costs of providing student internships and mentoring to eligible Rhode Island residents attending college or university in Rhode Island. Verified against the funder's own page Nov 4, 2026. Official page ↗

Rhode Island Phase 0 Grants to Defray SBIR/STTR Application Costs: Up to $3,000 (reimbursement of up to 50% of eligible proposal-preparation costs)

Run by Rhode Island Science and Technology Advisory Council (Innovate Rhode Island Small Business Fund). Reimburses a Rhode Island for-profit small business for up to 50% of the direct costs of preparing a federal Phase I SBIR/STTR proposal, up to $3,000. Accepted on a rolling basis until funds run out. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 30, 2026. Official page ↗

Renewable Energy Fund (Rhode Island Commerce): Varies, closes Dec 11, 2026

Rhode Island's Renewable Energy Fund provides grant funding to businesses and homeowners for small-scale and commercial-scale solar PV projects, as well as community renewable energy and brownfield solar installations. Funded through the system benefit charge on electric bills, REF helps Rhode Island businesses and communities access cost-effective, sustainable energy solutions while supporting green job growth. Verified against the funder's own page Nov 9, 2026. Official page ↗

Rhode Island SBIR/STTR Phase I Matching Grants: Matching grants of up to $75,000, next window April 6, 2027

Run by Rhode Island Science and Technology Advisory Council (Innovate RI Fund). Matching grants of up to $75,000 for Rhode Island companies with an active SBIR/STTR Phase I award, twice a year; a lottery runs if requests exceed funds. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 30, 2026. Official page ↗

Invention Incentive Program (Rhode Island Commerce): up to $5,000, usually opens around April 2027, based on past rounds

RI small businesses and inventors covering patent costs. Verified against the funder's own page Nov 5, 2026. Official page ↗

Starting a business in Rhode Island: what grant money exists

Most grant money goes to businesses that already exist. The SBA says it plainly: it "does not provide grants for starting and expanding a business." New owners usually start with savings, a loan, or a narrow grant built for one kind of business.

Rhode Island's strongest early-stage money is for innovators: matching grants for federal SBIR and STTR awards (Matching Grants for Federal Funds) and the Invention Incentive Program for patent costs.

The Rhode Island SBDC offers one-on-one, no-cost counseling for new or established businesses.

Grant programs

Northeast SARE Farmer Grant

National grant programs

Straight answers

Some of these say "between cycles." What do I do right now?

Get ready before the window opens. Rhode Island SBIR/STTR Phase I Matching Grants lists its next window as “April 6, 2027 (per page)”. The owners who win are the ones whose applications are ready the week a window opens, not the ones who find out it existed the week it closed.

Does Rhode Island have state business grants?

We track 10 Rhode Island state programs. The 6 named on this page are each checked against the funder's own page, and 4 are open now, including Matching Grants for Federal Funds and STAC Internship Program. Most Rhode Island state grants pay for one purpose, like research and innovation, worker training, renewable energy, or manufacturing equipment, not general cash for any business.

Is there a grant to start a business in Rhode Island?

For innovators, yes. Rhode Island Commerce funds patent costs and federal SBIR matches. For a new business, Rhode Island's Small Business Development Center offers no-cost advising, including help finding funding.

How do I find a grant in RI?

Start with Rhode Island Commerce: it runs 4 of the 6 RI state programs on this page. Every RI program here links to its official page, with the date we last checked it.

What's the difference between state, national, and federal programs?

State programs are run through Rhode Island agencies and partners and are limited to RI businesses or projects. Less competition. National programs are run by companies and foundations and are open to businesses in every state. Federal grants come through Grants.gov and tend to be larger and more paperwork-heavy.

Do I pay these back? How current is this list?

No. Grants are not loans. Each row shows the date we last checked it against the funder's own page. How we verify.

Which of these fit your Rhode Island business?

This page can't read your business. The 3-minute quiz can. It matches your industry, state, and ownership against all 79 programs and shows you where you stand.

See how many grants fit my business