Ocean State Shields, the eight-month-old startup behind a line of powerful disinfectants, just became the recipient of one of Rhode Island Commerce’s largest small business grants. The company secured $80,000 from the quasi-governmental organization, which it will use to support restaurants and other businesses preparing for the outdoors during Rhode Island's winter months.
CEO Allyson Cote told Rhode Island Inno that her company is working with Eat Drink Rhode Island as well as the Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce on a number of initiatives housed within “Take It Outside,” Gov. Gina Raimondo’s new program. Ocean State Shields is preparing heated outdoor igloos with seating for four, and it is now selling a “non-electric, non-toxic, non-chemical” heating pad as an alternative to propane-powered heat lamps, Cote said.
“Unlike many of the other ones being set up, ours are actually safe,” said Cote, who added that she has been collaborating with the State Fire Marshal's Office. “The idea of some of the others near propane heaters makes me shudder.”
For a quick refresher, all of Ocean State Shields’ equipment—from gloves and face shields to the newly developed igloos—is imbued with a clinical-grade disinfectant developed by SD Labs, a company based in Connecticut. The disinfectant is designed to protect against viruses for up to 90 days, thus giving it the name SD 90, and is non-toxic.
Since launching in April, Ocean State Shields has added a slew of products and services: pre-treated barriers, HVAC and air filtration, LED germ-inhibiting lighting and consumer kits for maintenance and additional protection, Cote told Rhode Island Inno in August. Ocean State Shields is developing two new proprietary products in partnership with UMass Dartmouth’s College of Engineering.
Although the startup began with lil' Rhody in mind, Cote and her team now plan to expand. The team recently applied for an emergency waiver from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, citing a public health emergency, to deploy its products in Connecticut, Pennsylvania and potentially Florida.
The waiver, if approved, would also accomplish something key: It would allow schools that bought Ocean State Shields products to be reimbursed via CARES Act funding, Cote said.
“What we found out was that thanks to the Department of Health’s infinite wisdom in recommending Clorox, the SD 90 products were not eligible for reimbursement,” Cote said. “That turned into a really major hiccup for us.”
There are plenty of school superintendents and university leaders on standby to purchase Ocean State Shields products if the waiver goes through, Cote said. Pending the waiver, Cote will then hire a team of people who are trained in the electrostatic spraying and application of SD 90.
In the meantime, Rhode Island's Covid-19 cases are increasing at an alarming clip. The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in the state rose starkly during the second half of October, prompting Raimondo to lower the social gathering limit from 15 to 10 people last week and warn residents of a potential rollback to Phase 2.
“Give that we’re surging again—and I am not surprised—this has to happen now,” Cote said.
