Inform. Advocate. Transform.

What Will It Really Take? Rhode Island's Response to a Changing Federal Landscape

For more than 27 years, the Economic Progress Institute (EPI) has worked to advance economic opportunity and racial equity through research, coalition building, and advocacy. We transform data into action, helping shape Rhode Island's budgets and public policies so that all Rhode Islanders, especially those facing the greatest barriers, have the opportunity to thrive. From expanding paid family leave and strengthening the state's safety net to advancing childcare, healthcare, tax fairness, and workforce policies, EPI continues to provide trusted research and policy leadership that drives meaningful change.

We warmly invite you to join us for the 15th Annual Policy & Budget Conference on Monday, September 28, 2026, from 8:00–11:30 AM at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick, Rhode Island.

This year's theme, "What Will It Really Take? Rhode Island's Response to a Changing Federal Landscape," comes at a pivotal moment for our state. As major federal policy changes reshape healthcare, food assistance, tax policy, and economic opportunity, Rhode Island faces critical choices that will influence the well-being of individuals, families, and communities for years to come.

The conference will bring together policymakers, advocates, community leaders, researchers, business and philanthropic partners, students, and engaged Rhode Islanders to examine these challenges and explore practical solutions. Attendees will also be among the first to receive insights from EPI's newly released 2026 Rhode Island Standard of Need Report, our signature analysis of what it truly costs to meet basic needs in Rhode Island and how changing federal and state policies affect the ability of families to thrive.

Support the Conversation. Strengthen Rhode Island's Future.

Become a conference sponsor and demonstrate your organization's commitment to advancing economic opportunity, racial equity, and informed public policy. Sponsorship helps make this important statewide conversation possible while providing valuable recognition among Rhode Island's leaders and decision-makers.

Other Ways to Support Our Mission

- Attend the conference by registering as an individual or purchasing a conference table for your team or organization.

- Enhance your registration with the Conference Resource Package, featuring a printed copy of the 2026 Rhode Island Standard of Need Report and the 2027 Rhode Island Policy & Budget Calendar, a year-round guide to key legislative dates, budget milestones, and policy deadlines.

Many Rhode Islanders’ wages are too low to meet basic living costs such as housing, food, healthcare, and child care. For 25 years, EPI has documented how hard it is for many people to make ends meet in our organization’s signature research report, titled the Rhode Island Standard of Need. The 25th anniversary edition of this report delves into topics like economic security (or insecurity, as the case may be), household earnings, work support programs, and many others. For the first time, the Rhode Island Standard of Need report also explores the genuine geographical differences in the cost of a “basic needs” budget county by county. Through it and other research, EPI aims to give policymakers and the public objective information with which to pursue and achieve a shared prosperity.