Business Support

Skill Share Circles are peer led social meet-ups that focus on farm adjacent skills that build off of our community’s knowledge. All skill levels are welcome to learn and teach! THESE EVENTS ARE ALL AGES!

Location: PVD THINGS, 12 Library Court, Providence, RI
Date: March 1st
Time: 3:00pm-5:00pm

What to expect: A casual space to learn together and meet new people.
Come with the skill we are focuses on (example: knowing how to tie certain knots!) and share your knowledge with the group OR just come to learn a knew skill from friends with varying skill levels.

This report includes funding opportunities available in the eight states served by Farm Credit East: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. Programs are divided into broad categories according to their main focus: beginning farmers, conservation, environment and forestry; energy; fisheries and aquaculture; organic; rural business development; and research, education and promotion.

The RI Department of State Business Services Division maintains Rhode Island’s business registry. While we record new business formations and ongoing business registration activity, we also provide thoughtful guidance and comprehensive services to those looking to start and maintain a business or non-profit in Rhode Island.

Explore Business Basics to learn how to create a comprehensive business plan, choose a unique business name, choose a legal structure, hire employees, and choose a location to ensure success from day one. You can also find a list of support resources from our partners, including start-up assistance, loan application preparation, marketing and brand building, legal counseling, and much more.

Are you ready to start or expand a business or do you need help with an existing business? Gather your questions and schedule a FREE interactive virtual appointment with the RI Department of State’s Business Services Division.

Appointments are offered every Tuesday and Thursday morning starting at 8:40AM. You will have the chance to sit down with a member of the Business Services staff to ask questions in a private, virtual one-on-one environment. Use your appointment time to ask questions about business registration, professional licensing, and state and local taxes, as well as help maintaining, reinstating, or closing an existing business.

The RI Business Assistant is an interactive tool for business owners and non-profit members to create a customized checklist of professional licensing, legal requirements and support resources tailored to their specific industry needs.
The RI Business Assistant will create a customized checklist of required applications for licensing and registration, estimated costs and fees, laws and regulations, and support resources to help your business or non-profit thrive.
Who should use the RI Business Assistant?
– Aspiring Entrepreneurs
– Startups
– Existing Businesses Looking to Expand
– Out-of-State/Foreign Businesses
– Non-Profits

Do you have legal questions about starting your business, acquiring land, entering into contracts, or other essential business matters? The Legal Food Hub Resource Library provides answers to common legal questions. If you’re in a hurry, check out our short Lightning Guides. If you have more time, explore our Legal Guides and recorded Webinars.

The Legal Food Hub is a free service that connects eligible food farmers, food entrepreneurs, and food/farm organizations in New England to volunteer attorneys for free legal assistance. Legal issues we help with include zoning, land leases, real estate transactions, intellectual property, entity formation, estate planning, contract review, disputes, and more! There are no limits on how often you can use our services as long as you are eligible (eligibility guidelines are available on our website).

The core mission of the Center for Southeast Asians is to promote the prosperity, heritage, and leadership of Southeast Asians in Rhode Island. Over the years, the organization has expanded its programs to also serve other ethnic minority communities, including a sizable Latino community as well as new refugees and immigrants from other regions.

In addition to providing 6,900+ individuals each year with a wide range of direct services, which include job training and adult literacy programs, small business development, assistance to victims of crime, case management, public health outreach, ESL and citizenship classes, a nutrition program for seniors, free tax preparation services, food stamps outreach and enrollment, transitional housing, and health insurance navigation and enrollment, CSEA is engaged in advocacy and research to affect system change and inform public policy development.

Southside Community Land Trust (SCLT) serves people in economically challenged urban neighborhoods where fresh produce is scarce and who, as a result, are at risk for life-threatening, diet-related, chronic diseases.