The Rhode Island Foundation approved $1.4 million in grants late last
month awarding money to groups that provide services to assist children
and families, economic and community development, and education. This is
the second of three rounds of grants the non-profit foundation is
scheduled to award this year.
So-called Main Street revitalization projects in Warwick, Newport and
Westerly were among those to receive money from the Foundation,
according to a statement issued on Oct. 30. The National Trust for
Historic Preservation received $75,000 to establish a statewide Main
Street program to help regain the viability of downtown retail and
residential enterprises. The statewide program is designed to serve as a
technical and funding resource to help out proposed Main Street efforts
and those already existing in Woonsocket, Newport, Westerly and
Providence.
A $28,000 grant for Newport’s Broadway neighborhood project marks the
third year that RIF is providing funding for the program. The Broadway
group has already reduced the number of commercial vacancies on Broadway
from 15 to two and secured $250,000 in Community Development Block Grant
money, according to RIF officials. The Westerly-Pawcatuck Joint
Development Task Force received $30,000 to continue its effort to
revitalize downtown Westerly.
Other economic and community development projects receiving funds
Include $42,000 to the Woonsocket Neighborhood Development Corp. for training
and apprenticeship employment programs in the Constitution Hill
neighborhood.
