View Larger + Governor Dan McKee and Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor announced a new grant program to assist small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will use $20 million of the nearly $1.25 billion in CARES Act funds from last spring to give qualifying businesses $5,000 grants. The first round of applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis beginning, Thursday, April 15, 2021, through Friday, April 30, 2021, at 5:00 p.m.GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST Future rounds and expansions of this program are possible depending upon demand and availability of funds.