11/23/2025
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island Secretary of Commerce Elizabeth Tanner will step down from her position on July 4 to take the helm of a new nonprofit organization focused on capitalizing on the economic opportunities tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The newly formed nonprofit, Ocean State 2026, aims to position Rhode Island as a key player in the international event, which is expected to bring more than one million visitors through the Providence metro area. With seven matches scheduled at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, the tournament is projected to generate over $330 million in economic activity for the region.
Tanner, who was appointed Commerce Secretary by Governor Dan McKee in 2022, has served in state government since 2015. She began her public service career as Executive Vice President of Client Services at the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation before being named Director of the Department of Business Regulation in 2017 under then-Governor Gina Raimondo. In that role, she oversaw a wide range of regulatory agencies, including the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Office of Cannabis Regulation.
An interim replacement for the Secretary of Commerce position has not yet been named.
