Any Providence -based business or artist may take part in this holiday initiative. Please visit bpba.providenceri.com and sign up to be part of the free marketing and promotions-program. It is password-protected and interactive, so you can constantly add and update your specials and sales. We also have free window signage to remind shoppers that you are a participant and encourage them to support you and other local small business during the holidays and all year long. Signs are available in PEDP and Art Culture & Tourism - 444 Westminster Street - and in the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services at 25 Dorrance Street.

Courtesy of our mentors at the RI Economic Development Corporation’s Every Company Counts and ExNihilo, there are many ways to promote your business on the Web for free. Here are a few they recommend: -If you’re a Providence-based business, please be sure to sign up for your free listing on bpba.providenceri.com and otherwise at www.buylocalri.org -Establish a page for your business on Facebook www.facebook.com and www.Twitter.com and start building a network of connections -Establish your free Google Places listing at https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin? And at http://local.yahoo.com/ -Take advantage of free listings on location-based services such as Foursquare.com and others like it Put your best face forward on the web by maintaining these listings and keeping your website up to date. Taking these steps, you can achieve great, no-cost exposure for your business online!

First, congratulations on being able to survive the economic tornado! Second, the Recovery Act website (www.recovery.gov) is an excellent first step to determining your eligibility for tax credits, health insurance information and other forms of assistance. The FAQ & Resources tab has a link to information on various benefits and tax credits (http://www.recovery.gov/FAQ/Pages/benefits.aspx) that are available. The U.S. Small Business Administration is also offering the America’s Recovery Capital (ARC) loan program (http://www.sba.gov/recovery/arcloanprogram/) through September 30, 2010 to provide up to $35,000 in short term relief to small businesses facing immediate economic hardship.

You’re in luck-in addition to our loan programs, the following local organizations can assist you in your financing search: • Rhode Island Small Business Development Center at Johnson & Wales University (www.risbdc.org) • Southeastern Economic Development Corporation (www.seedcorp.com) • U.S. Small Business Administration (http://www.sba.gov/localresources/district/ri/index.html) Visit their websites or call us for more information at 401.351.4300.