30 Minority and Women-Owned Small Businesses in Rhode Island Receive Grants from Washington Trust, Lawyers for Civil Rights, Tufts Health Plan

Westerly, RI – September 16, 2020 - The Washington Trust Company, along with Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) and Tufts Health Plan have awarded 30 small businesses, specifically those that are minority-owned and women-owned in Rhode Island, with $1,000 grants. The funds will be used to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE), technology allowing their employees to work safely remotely, and other health and wellness-related support to help their reopening.

“Washington Trust is pleased to partner with LCR | BizGrow and Tufts Health Plan to support Rhode Island-based minority-owned and women-owned small businesses – especially as they navigate through these challenging times,” stated Edward O. “Ned” Handy III, Washington Trust’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

The grants are designed to help secure masks, cleaning supplies, provide a safe work environment or other critical measures in anticipation of small businesses reopening in Rhode Island. Business owners have expressed gratitude for the funding.

“These grant funds will be utilized to provide much needed access to PPE and sanitization supplies for our essential workers and their families, as well as stress reducing & wellness services for our employees who have been working throughout this pandemic to provide healthy foods for our community. Thank you so much to Tufts Health Plan, Lawyers for Civil Rights, and Washington Trust," said Minnie Luong, the owner of Chi Kitchen Foods in Pawtucket.

The businesses who received the grants include: Lotus Noire Health (East Providence), Coach Mel Moore (Pawtucket), Daisy Rodriguez (Johnston), Living Chi (Warwick), She Hopes She Helps (Pawtucket), Shalom Damay Day Spa Pawtucket), Almonte Interpreters (Cumberland), Be Moore Interpreting (Pawtucket), Carolina’s Home Daycare (Providence), Clara’s Child Care (Providence), El Gran Salon (Providence), Evelyn Home Day Care (Pawtucket), Home Day Care Silvia (Providence), Lira Salon (East Providence), Little Angels Home Daycare (Providence), Mamá Tati Home Daycare (Providence), Paola’s Beauty Salon (Woonsocket), Rosa’s Child Care (Providence), VIP Nails (Narragansett), Chi Kitchen (Pawtucket), Ja Patty (Pawtucket), Le Parch Lounge (Cumberland), Meal Mantra (Warren), Ming’s Asian Street Food (Pawtucket), Rebelle Artisan Bagels (Providence), Sarcastic Sweets (Providence), Alex Drain Cleaning & Plumbing (Providence), Almanazar Construction (Providence), King’s Men Corp. (East Providence), Steer (Providence).

ABOUT WASHINGTON TRUST® Founded in 1800, Washington Trust is the oldest community bank in the nation and one of the Northeast’s premier financial services companies. Washington Trust offers a full range of financial services, including commercial banking, mortgage banking, personal banking and wealth management and trust services through its offices located in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts. The Washington Trust Company is a subsidiary of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc., (NASDAQ: WASH). Additional information on Washington Trust and its subsidiaries can be found at https://www.washtrust.com/.