Monday, January 12, 2026
Mayor Brett P. Smiley, City Council President Rachel Miller, Rhode Island Commerce, and Brown University today announced that recovery grants will be provided to three local merchant associations impacted by the recent shooting at Brown University. Each City of Providence grant of $15,000 will be matched dollar for dollar by Rhode Island Commerce and Brown University, providing a total of $45,000 in support for each association.
The grants will be awarded to the Thayer District Merchant Association, the Wickenden Area Merchant Association, and the Wayland Square Merchants Association, whose small businesses were disproportionally impacted by the December 13 shooting at Brown University. Funding will support business recovery efforts and initiatives that help stabilize foot traffic and customer confidence in the affected districts.
“At a time when Providence families were preparing to celebrate the holiday season, the horrific act of violence at Brown University on December 13th disrupted daily life for everyone in our communities,” said Mayor Brett Smiley. “Many of our local businesses felt the impact of this tragedy in numerous ways, including a dramatic reduction in foot traffic just before Christmas. The City’s investment is aimed at supporting our small businesses and neighborhood commercial districts during a difficult moment. Thanks to Rhode Island Commerce and Brown University, we are tripling the impact to deliver practical support to help merchants recover, retain customers and keep these corridors active and resilient.”
The funding is intended to help merchant associations respond to economic impacts following the incident, including reduced activity and ongoing operational challenges. Grants will be distributed directly to the merchant associations, which will oversee implementation based on local needs.
“The events at Brown tore through our community, impacting small businesses during their most important season, and even so, many local businesses came forward, finding ways to support our community and public safety professionals,” said Council President Rachel Miller (Ward 13). “Now, these businesses will know that the City has their back too – helping to ensure that they can recover from the economic hardship they experienced.”
“From the earliest moments of the heartbreaking tragedy that took the lives of two Brown students and injured nine others, Brown’s neighbors in Providence provided crucial help to students, faculty and staff even as they too grappled with the impacts on their own lives and businesses,” said Brown University President Christina H. Paxson. “We are forever grateful for their support. The merchants in these commercial districts play a tremendous role in sustaining a thriving local community that generations of Brown community members know and love, and we appreciate the opportunity to match these grants as one way to express our gratitude.”
“By providing this support to small businesses impacted by last month’s tragedy, we are helping to strengthen their economic resilience and enabling them to continue serving our community,” said Secretary of Commerce Stefan Pryor.