News

Citizens Bank, a member of the New England Council, has taken steps to proactively fight back Rhode Island’s tendency of being the “first in, last out” of an economic recession. The Rhode Island-headquartered bank has made targeted donations to non-profit organizations working to support economic recover in the Ocean State.

The bank’s Rhode Island president Keith Kelly, explained, “Selfishly for Rhode Island, we cannot continue to be first in last out…We have to change the business environment.”

One organization that Citizens has been closely working with is Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG), a non-profit that focuses on creating jobs and positive social and economic growth. The bank has pledged $40,000 to SEG’s programs, grants, and events that are hosted to help entrepreneurs and small businesses. By investing money into local organizations, the bank hopes to boost the economy of the state.

Similarly, the bank is closely watching the Rhode Island Foundation’s advice on how to distribute the $1 billion stimulus fund from the American Rescue Plan Act. Kelly believes the money is “a real opportunity… from the federal government to really put our arms around the entire state, [and] identify the holes,”. Kelly added that the end goal of this project should be to make Rhode Island more appealing to companies, in order to lure more people to invest in the state.

The New England Council is grateful to Citizens Bank for its commitment to supporting economic recovery it its home state.  Read more in the Providence Business News.