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Rhode Island is ready to compete.
Ready to innovate.
Ready to build.

Compete RI is an initiative of the Partnership for Rhode Island, a nonprofit CEO roundtable representing Rhode Island’s largest private employers.

A long-term initiative to strengthen our state and bring Rhode Island together

Compete RI is a collaboration between the State of Rhode Island and the Partnership for Rhode Island, a nonprofit CEO roundtable representing the state’s largest private employers.

Originally launched to support Rhode Island in leveraging funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Compete RI has since expanded its focus to amplify a broader range of federal funding opportunities across multiple agencies. This includes, but is not limited to, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Compete RI has supported federal funding convenings and, through a partnership with Streamline, aims to demystify federal funding for potential applicants.

In 2023, Compete RI was recognized by the White House as a best practice for how states can support state agencies, municipalities, Tribal governments, educational institutions, nonprofits, and private entities in accessing and deploying federal infrastructure funding.

With strong national and regional partnerships, Compete RI is well-connected to evolving federal funding opportunities and best practices, ensuring Rhode Island entities have access to the latest resources, guidance, and technical assistance.

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NEWS: Rhode Island Foundation earmarks funds to help nonprofits weather federal funding freeze and cuts

The Rhode Island Foundation will award $3 million in grants to help Rhode Island nonprofits affected by the loss of federal funding due to recent actions in Washington.

The Foundation will award $1 million in grants through its new Community Partner Resilience Fund (CPR Fund). Organizations that demonstrate potentially significant and long-term federal funding losses can apply for grants of up to $50,000. The application period opens April 7.   

The Foundation invites the public to contribute to the CPR Fund at rifoundation.org/resilience.  

 

Navigating Federal Funding in a Changing Landscape

As federal priorities and funding dynamics evolve, Compete RI remains steadfast in its commitment to helping Rhode Island secure and maximize federal resources. We continue to develop innovative strategies, foster collaboration, and support existing federal grantees as they navigate the complexities of federal funding.

No matter the shifts nationally, our focus stays the same—leveraging federal opportunities to advance high-impact projects that benefit communities across the state. Compete RI stands ready to assist partners in adapting to changes, identifying opportunities, and ensuring that Rhode Island remains competitive on the national stage.

If your organization's federal grant has been terminated, review this guidance from the National Council of Nonprofits.

 

 

Mt. Hope Bridge footage thanks to Tolppa Media

quotes

“Compete RI is doing the very important work of connecting people and organizations across the state and removing silos. To give the community insight into what is happening at the federal level, and to involve the state at the town and city level is a necessary task for Rhode Island to succeed, and Compete RI's collaborative e orts are making this possible.”

-April Brown, Organizational Steward (Director), Racial and Environmental Justice Committee

Our vision

Compete

  • Grantwriting support
  • Strategic coordination between agencies, municipalities, and institutions
  • Best practices

Innovate

  • Transformative infrastructure
  • Resilient infrastructure
  • Job creation

Build

  • Vision for execution
  • Scaled coordination and collaboration
  • Generational infrastructure improvements and modernization

We are excited to partner with Streamline

Navigating government funding is time consuming and challenging as data is spread across hundreds of sources and solicitations are dense to read. Streamline's Discover product exists to remove barriers to accessing this critical capital: their tool is the most comprehensive dataset of government funding opportunities across the federal, state, and local levels.

Opportunities are searchable by your location, organization type, target funding amount, and other factors. Each listing highlights the critical information you need, while Streamline's AI-powered chat feature allows you to ask questions directly about each solicitation—making funding more accessible and transparent.

We recommend their tool as a resource to support our partners in seeking government funding.

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