PROVIDENCE – Grow Smart Rhode Island, a statewide organization focused on urban planning, is hosting a forum to examine alternative approaches to investing in infrastructure.
The forum will begin at 8:30 a.m. on May 5 at the R.I. Convention Center in Providence. Grow Smart, a nonprofit, hopes the forum will help detail innovative approaches to investing in infrastructure, and how that can help support community and economic revitalization.
“Many municipal comprehensive plans include the goal of encouraging community and economic revitalization in their urban and town centers to accommodate our state’s demand for growth,” according to the group. “However, a key challenge is a lack of suitable infrastructure to attract private investment for such development, including a variety of transportation choices as well as appropriate capacity for water and sewer.”
Grow Smart has booked at least five panelists from the private and public sectors in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Organizers hope to share resources and programs in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, specifically the Bay State’s no-match state grant funding program designed to help cities and towns invest in infrastructure, according to an announcement.
The speakers and presenters include:
- Gregory P. Bialecki, principal of Redgate and former Massachusetts Cabinet Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development
- Erica Kreuter, MassWorks Infrastructure program director
- Jeff Davis, principal planner at Horsley Witten
- Michael Baer, senior advisor at R.I. Infrastructure Bank
- Eric Shorter, director of development at R.I. Housing
Those interested in attending are urged to register here.
Eli Sherman is a PBN staff writer.
