Local Return announces the inaugural inductees onto the Loyal Local List, a new honor roll of Rhode Islanders growing the local economy
Local Return today announced the five inaugural inductees onto the new Rhode Island Loyal Local List, an honor roll of Rhode Islanders who have demonstrated commitment to the local economy.
The Loyal Local List highlights the local multiplier effect, the demonstrated benefits of keeping money moving within the local economy. “We honor these business leaders for recognizing the economic and community ripples that come from spending and investing locally,” said Jessica David, president of Local Return. “They have choices, and they prioritize local. We hope they inspire you as much as they inspire us!”
For every $100 spent at a locally-owned business, an average of $68 stays in the local community (compared to $43 for a big box store). Funds held at a local credit union or community bank stay entirely in the local economy, compared to less than 1% with the large, national banks. Perhaps even more importantly, money that stays local recirculates through the local economy 2-4 times more than money spent at a non-local company, meaning more wealth, jobs, and community giving. It also means stronger community ties. “When money is in motion within a community,” said David, “the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.”
The Loyal Local List is made possible with grant funding from BankNewport. “BankNewport is proud to support Local Return and the inaugural Loyal Local List, which recognizes Rhode Island business leaders who understand that where we spend, bank, and invest matters,” said Jack Murphy, President and CEO of BankNewport. “When dollars stay local, they help strengthen small businesses, create opportunity, and build more resilient communities. We applaud these honorees for leading by example and helping show what’s possible when people and businesses invest in Rhode Island.”
The five inductees were nominated by peers for their commitment to keeping money within the local economy and for supporting a strong and resilient Rhode Island. They include:
Kristi Dukoff, Founder of Kristi’s Kraftails, has developed a line of locally-sourced, seasonally-inspired mocktails and locally-roasted seasoned nuts. She launched her company in 2022 to reimagine the drinking experience for anyone seeking alcohol‑free options. Her Kraftails are vegan, low-sugar, and gluten-free.
“Local supporting local is so important, as we are a small but mighty community,” said Dukoff. “It’s the domino effect to help and support as many local makers, farms, and producers as I can, when I know exactly how hard they work and how many hats they wear. It can’t get any more local than using local ingredients and products!”
The local businesses Kristi works with include Pinch of Fancy, Jaffal Chocolates, Dee’s Sweets, Grain Reaper, The Local Patch, Moonrose Farm, Jaswell’s Farm, Carlson’s, Dragon Fly Farm, Chris & Christina’s Farm, Lucky Foot Farm, Bardon Orchard, Four Town Farm, and Ward’s Berry Farm. Additionally, at the end of 2025, Kristi opened a 100% local pop‑up shop in Warren featuring more than 60 vendors, artisans, and producers, as well as a food pantry for anyone in need.
“I admire Kristi for her boundless compassion for her community and the way that her entire business is a love letter to her neighbors,” said Lisa Raiola, president and founder of Hope & Main. “As a mixologist she understands that we all thrive when this rare alchemy is achieved!”
Stuart Flanagan is Principal of Newport Renewables. Newport Renewables’ mission is to make solar energy accessible for every home. They provide development, construction, operation, and maintenance services for renewable energy projects throughout New England and are particularly known for their expertise in building zero energy homes and installing commercial and utility solar power.
Flanagan estimates that, even without including employee wages, between 40 and 50% of Newport Renewables budget is expended with local companies. “Newport Renewables has always been a strong advocate of using local labor, suppliers, and subcontractors for our projects in Rhode Island,” he said. “It is important to us as a company to support our neighbors and the Rhode Island economy as a whole. With our state being recognized as having one of the most unfriendly business climates, we are proud to do our part in trying to make it better, supporting the Rhode Island-based companies we subcontract to, and our dedicated local employees.”
Newport Renewables’ local partners include Arnold Lumber, Steel Giraffe, Imperatore Crane, Northeast Engineers, Principe Engineering, Wilco Development, Starkweather and Shepley, Handy Law, Sansiveri and Kimball, Saccoccio Tile and Marble, Cassie’s Cans, K Electric, Rambone, Narragansett Rubbish Removal, New England Wood Products, Liberty Cedar, Jutras Woodworking, Hareld Glass, East Coast Concrete, Cullion Concrete, and Beausoleil and Sons.
Said Seth Handy, principal and attorney at Handy Law, LLC, “I’m so pleased that Local Return is celebrating such outstanding members of RI’s local economy as Newport Renewables. It’s amazing and inspiring what one small business can do to spur investment and improve so many lives right here in our home.”
Greg Pilgrim is CEO of Murdock Webbing Company, an industry leader in manufacturing narrow woven fabrics since 1936. With more than 150 employees in their Central Falls facility, Murdock Webbing creates woven products that meet the needs of their customers. Their products are used in military equipment, pet safety restraints, and fall restraints. Committed to innovative technologies, all of Murdock’s manufacturing is done in the United States.
“We have been in business for 90 years, and part of our culture is to support local vendors whenever possible,” said Pilgrim. “Part of our mission statement is ‘to be recognized in the community as a good corporate citizen,’ and we take that to heart. We get approached weekly from larger non-local vendors soliciting our business, whether it is for mill supplies, copy paper, cardboard, etc. But we cherish the personal side of those relationships, and remaining local allows for those relationships to flourish. We take a hands-on approach that keeps dollars flowing in the local economy. Some supplies are just not available locally for our business, but if there is a local option, that is where we will often land.”
Murdock’s local vendors include many long-time relationships, such as more than 30 years with Disanto, Priest & Co and Starkweather & Shepley; 25 years with Atlantic Paper & Twine; and more than 20 years with Bristol County Savings Bank and Abbott Action. Other local suppliers include Graphic Ink, ALTA, Sweet Lumber, and Delta Electro Power. They’re also a proud supporter of several community efforts in Central Falls.
“Murdock Webbing has evolved their textile company over the years into a highly technical company providing products for use all over the world,” said Christian Cowan, executive director of the URI Research Foundation and Polaris. “Greg Pilgrim continued to keep his focus on his employees and the local community through this evolution. Their dedication to building the best products while keeping their core values make them a perfect inductee for this list.”
Pierre St-Germain is Director of Dining & Conference Services at the University of Rhode Island. St-Germain says that 62% of URI Dining Services’ business is locally sourced. They have relationships with local companies such as Tony’s Seafood, Roch’s Produce, Cabot Creamery, Giffords, Bliss, and Narragansett Creamery. They also work closely with the URI Agronomy Farm to procure locally grown and harvested produce. Additionally, URI’s convenience store, The Corner Store, located in Hope Commons, sells local items such as Little Rhody fresh eggs and ice cream and sorbets from Green Line Apothecary.
“URI Dining Services is committed to using local products and working with local companies whenever possible,” said St-Germain. “Working with local businesses matters to me because it keeps dollars in our community, strengthens the relationships we rely on when things get tough, and helps build a food system that’s fresher, more resilient, and more Rhode Island.”
URI Dining Services is so committed to partnering with local vendors, farms, and fishermen that they have a dedicated Eat Local @ URI webpage and highlight locally-sourced ingredients in the dining halls.
Farm Fresh Rhode Island Executive Director Jesse Rye said, “I have had the opportunity to work with Pierre both at RISD and now URI. I have an immense amount of respect for how Pierre is able to navigate difficult systems to find solutions that work at scale. I have seen him interact with students, faculty, and vendors, as well as a network of food systems partners. He always brings care and respect to conversations. Pierre is in a position to make a big impact in our local economy, and he takes that responsibility very seriously.”
Katy Westcott is Owner and CEO of Katrinkles, Inc. An independent, female owned and operated business, Katrinkles provides crafters and fiber artists with high quality buttons and tools. Katrinkles buttons and tools are carried by independent yarn and craft stores in 48 states, several online platforms, and 18 other countries. She calculates that 58% of the components used to manufacture Katrinkles products are made locally. A full 75% of Katrinkles suppliers are located in the northeast region.
“We’re manufacturing in Rhode Island, so it makes sense to me to keep everything as local as possible,” said Westcott. “I start by looking for materials made in Rhode Island, New England, and New York. When I can’t find what I need locally, I branch out to U.S. made. I initially started working with local companies for our supplies because I wanted to contribute to their success, and the success of our local economy. I believe that supporting the people around us makes us good neighbors, and I’m proud that Katrinkles is the type of business I would want to support.”
Westcott highlighted her strategic relationship with Nterprisers, a woman-owned, Rhode Island-based company that offers a directory of manufacturers. Her products are primarily made of cherry and maple hardwoods, which she sources from New York and Pennsylvania through a Rhode Island distributor. Katrinkles’ wood, rings, packaging, ball chain, and elastic are made in either Rhode Island or the Northeastern U.S. Even their laser machines are made domestically.
“Katy’s influence on crafting can be felt internationally, but her impact in her Rhode Island ‘backyard’ is even greater,” said Erin Read, marketing director for Nterprisers. “Katy is a perfect example of a Loyal Local. She’s very intentional in her efforts to buy, give, make and grow locally.”
