POV with SEG Recap: Entrepreneurship as a Pathway to Rhode Island’s Future
On Tuesday, September 16, we launched the fourth episode of our podcast series, POV with SEG, recorded live at our Hub in downtown Providence. In front of a full house, SEG CEO Julie Owens led an in-depth discussion with Matt Weldon, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training; Tess Feigenbaum, Co-Founder of Epic Renewal; and Kyla Quinlan, Chief Operating Officer of Feast & Fettle.
The conversation blended state-level workforce strategy with real-world insights from two proven social impact organizations, Feast & Fettle, a local meal delivery service with a strong track record of job creation, and Epic Renewal, self described “community composters,” building a pipeline for future job growth. Together, the panel explored how entrepreneurship is not just about building businesses, but about raising incomes, creating jobs, and designing workplaces where people feel invested and valued.
Director Weldon underscored how critical it is to make investments with state and federal resources that truly lift Rhode Islanders. From workforce development to defining what a living wage looks like, he pressed the question: how do we ensure these investments create real opportunity? He pointed to the ingredients entrepreneurs need to thrive, including access to networks, capital, and support services, and shared his own experience growing up with a mother who ran an early childhood education business. Entrepreneurship, he emphasized, is a pathway to a stronger economy, yet it too often gets left out of national conversations about economic development.
The episode also spotlighted entrepreneurs who are expanding opportunity in ways that transform both customers’ and employees’ lives. Feast & Fettle, which has grown from 30 employees to 300, was built with intentionality, giving customers more time back in their day while offering strong benefits and an inclusive workplace where every person’s contribution matters.
Epic Renewal is building a zero-waste future through composting services, a Providence-based shop, and event support that employs dozens of workers on call. Their model prioritizes collaboration over competition, creating job opportunities for people, including those reentering society after incarceration, while making sustainable choices more accessible. Both companies demonstrated how job creation can be rooted in values, whether it is sustainability, inclusivity, or care for employees’ well-being.
A clear theme throughout the evening was the persistent challenge of access to capital, especially for marginalized groups like women and entrepreneurs of color. Julie noted this is the barrier she hears most often from SEG’s community. Director Weldon agreed, calling for stronger efforts to connect people to existing free services, business navigators, and public resources. “We need to do a better job getting the word out,” he said, urging entrepreneurs to lean into connections, join associations, and take advantage of available resources like the RI Business Assistant tool from the Secretary of State’s Office.
The conversation underscored both the progress being made and the work that remains, creating real pathways for people with ideas to access the support they need to turn them into thriving businesses.
🎧Listen to the full episode now to hear candid insights, inspiring stories, and practical advice shared live at the SEG Hub. You will come away with a renewed sense of how entrepreneurship can drive not only economic growth but also a more inclusive and resilient Rhode Island.
