WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $314 million in American Rescue Plan State Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation grants to 34 states and the District of Columbia, U.S. Senator Jack Reed, who voted to make $750 million in American Rescue Plan Travel, Tourism & Outdoor Recreation Program grants possible through the American Rescue Plan Act (Pub. L. 117-2), hailed the announcement as an economic boost for the state.

Rhode Island is among the first 34 states to be awarded a grant, receiving a $10,632,148 State Tourism Grant in support of Rhode Island’s travel and tourism sectors.  The federal funds are designed to help states blunt the economic impacts of pandemic shutdowns.  Under EDA guidelines, they may be used to support marketing, infrastructure, workforce, and other projects to rejuvenate safe leisure, business, and international travel to Rhode Island.

“Rhode Island’s tourism industry is critical to our economy and it was hit hard by the pandemic.  We want to safely welcome back more visitors to our vibrant restaurants, hotels, and neighborhoods and these recovery funds will help us do just that.  This federal funding will help Rhode Island tourism recover, get more Rhode Islanders back to work, and ensure Rhode Island continues to have a healthy, viable, sustainable tourism industry,” said Senator Reed.

Under the program, EDA is awarding a total of $510 million in State Tourism grants nationally as well as $240 million in Competitive Tourism grants that will be awarded to advance the economic recovery and resiliency of communities where the travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation industries were hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic.  Rhode Island may compete for additional federal travel and tourism aid as a share of the $240 million in Competitive Tourism grants.

In addition to Rhode Island, the following states were awarded grants today under this round of funding:

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.