The Rhode Island School of Design’s new Design & Business Entrepreneurship Center in Providence, part of the Center for Integrative Technology...is a training and consulting program that provides workspace for nine businesses and is geared toward helping design-based entrepreneurs, inventors, innovators and product developers during the growth stages of their business. It is a part of RISD and managed by The Center for Design & Business (CDB), a joint venture between RISD and Bryant College.

“One of the things we’re hoping is that the businesses will utilize the RISD students” and their talents to help them get their businesses off the ground, said Matt Montgomery, senior media specialist for RISD’s Department of External Relations.

For the last five years, the CDB has been operating in the same fashion, advising and consulting starter businesses, from their current location at 20 Washington Place. Now, the new center will allow them to move all of their efforts into one building with artists, designers and architects, [director Cheryl] Faria said.

After the first year, monthly rents between $1,900-$2,300 will provide companies with space, training programs, aid from RISD graduate students, professional development seminars, and a mentor team.

“One of the things clients will get in this center, more than anything, will be connections from the business world,” Faria said.