The Rhode Island Small Business Development Center (RISBDC) provides no-cost business counseling, training programs and workshops, and resources to help small businesses in Rhode Island start, grow and succeed. It coordinates public and private assistance and aims to strengthen individual businesses to benefit the state economy through job growth and investment. Services include assistance with business and strategic planning, financing, regulations, marketing and various operational areas.

1. WHAT WE DO
The Rhode Island Small Business Development Center (RISBDC) at the University of Rhode Island
serves as a focal point for the coordination of federal, state, local, academic, and private resources
to assist small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.
We provide no cost, one-on-one business counseling to entrepreneurs who wish to start, grow or
maintain their businesses. In addition, the RISBDC offers a variety of training programs, workshops
and seminars covering both basic business skills and advanced topical subjects at no or low cost.
THE RISBDC OFFERS VALUABLE RESOURCES TO THE ENTREPRENEUR @ LITTLE OR NO COST
OUR PURPOSE:
The services offered by the RISBDC are designed to create and promote economic development
throughout the State of Rhode Island one business at a time. By strengthening individual companies,
the entire economy benefits through the addition of jobs, infusion of capital.
SERVICES:
The RISBDC provides Rhode Island’s small business owners with best-fit, comprehensive resources in a variety of
areas, including:
 Business & Strategic Planning
 Laws & Regulations
 Starting a Business
 Succession Planning
 Loan Packaging & Capital
Resourcing
 Government Procurement
 Human Resource Management
 Accounting and Record Keeping
 Financial Analysis
 Sales & Marketing
 Business Plan Development
 Market Research
 Technology
 Site Selection
 Financial Projections
PLANNING, CONSULTING & TRAINING:
■ RISBDC offers high quality, in-depth and hands-on management counseling services for existing and start-up
business owners. Our consultants address a variety of questions and situations including developing a
comprehensive business plan, cash flow analysis, financial projections and management issues.
■ RISBDC provides valuable tools to help entrepreneurs make informed business decisions when opening a new
business, purchasing an existing business or expanding/transforming an established business. Each RISBDC
service center has access to demographic information, market research, industry profiles, sample business plans
and a variety of publications covering numerous business topics.
■ RISBDC offers an intensive schedule of training workshops and classes each year for existing and start-up
businesses. The workshops vary from large, statewide sessions to small classes taught by area experts. Examples
of workshop topics are: fundamentals of entrepreneurship, basic record keeping, Quickbooks, exporting, small
business taxation issues, and marketing. A listing of training workshops currently being offered throughout the
RIBDC network is available by visiting:
www.risbdc.org 401-874-7232
RHODE ISLAND
SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER

2. SOUTHERN
REGION
Charlestown
East Greenwich
Exeter
Hopkinton
Jamestown
Little Compton
Middletown
Narragansett
New Shoreham
(Block Island)
Newport
North Kingstown
Portsmouth
Richmond
South Kingstown
Tiverton
Warwick
West Greenwich
Westerly
Regional Assistance Centers
P R O V I D E N C E
I n P a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
C o m m e r c e R I
Joshua Daly
Regional Director
Work 401.490.0378
joshuadaly@uri.edu
Manuel Batlle
Business Counselor
Work 401.490.0378
mjbatlle@uri.edu
N O R T H E R N
I n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h t h e
N o r t h e r n R I C h a m b e r
o f C o m m e r c e
Dennis E. McCarthy
Business Counselor
Cell 401.474.6998
dennismccarthy@uri.edu
S O U T H E R N
Monique Giguere
Office Manager
Work 401.874.7232
mgiguere@uri.edu
L E A D C E N T E R
Edward Huttenhower
State Director
Work 401.874.5936
Cell 401.439.6519
ehuttenhower@uri.edu
Diane C. Fournaris
Assistant State Director
Work 401.874-5965
Cell 401.439.5881
diane_fournaris@uri.edu
www.risbdc.org
NORTHERN
REGION
Burrillville
Coventry
Cumberland
Foster
Glocester
Johnston
Lincoln
North
Providence
North
Smithfield
Scituate
Smithfield
Woonsocket
PROVIDENCE
REGION
Barrington
Bristol
Central Falls
Cranston
East Providence
Pawtucket
Providence
Warren
West Warwick