Citing the Tax Credit's expansion to 23 communities and the projected stimulation of nearly $2.5 billion in economic activity within Rhode Island, Grow Smart concludes that the program is the single best economic development and neighborhood revitalization tool seen in decades

According to new studies released today by Grow Smart Rhode Island on behalf of the 57-member Coalition for Neighborhood & Economic Renewal (CNER), the Rhode Island Historic Preservation Investment Tax Credit Program is generating thousands of jobs, nearly $2.5 billion in economic activity, more than $400 million in new tax revenues over the next 20 years for state and local government combined, several thousand new housing units - including more than 750 designated as affordable - as well as the cleanup of dozens of environmentally contaminated sites, often known as brownfields.

Most of these findings are contained in a study performed by the real estate consulting and investment firm of Lipman, Frizzell and Mitchell (LF&M) of Columbia, Maryland. The study represents an update of a similar one conducted by the same firm that was released in March of 2005. [Read More]

Download the full report(pdf)

Hear about RI's smart growth progress and the remaining obstacles to shaping a sustainable and prosperous future

WPRO's Bill Haberman spent 30 minutes recently with Grow Smart RI Executive Director Scott Wolf discussing the state of smart growth in the Ocean State.

Listen in on their conversation about the gains Rhode Island has made over the last decade. Also, hear about what remains to be done in order to take full advantage of our existing centers of development and to conserve our remaining open space, our agriculture and our many natural and historical resources.

Click HERE to listen-while-you-work. (MP3)

October 25th conference will bring togehter local leaders, community stakeholders and a nationally recognized expert to examine necessary steps to make mass transit a more viable option for Rhode Island's future

Join leaders from government, the private sector and community organizations to explore a long term vision for sustainable transportation in Rhode Island.

Speakers will include Kevin Flynn of Rhode Island's Division of Planning, Mark Therrien of RIPTA, Ann Tate of RISD and Charles Hales of the transportation planning firm HDR, Inc. of Portland, OR.

Daytime program runs 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at URI's downtown Providence campus. Evening event takes place 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Local 121 on Washington Street in Providence.

Registration fees apply. Click HERE to register online.

WalkScore.com grades neighborhoods on being walk- friendy

How walkable is your neighborhood? Walkscore.com is an innovative new tool that can rank your home's (or future home's) walkability "score" and encourages walking by identifying the closest schools, parks, grocery stores, and other common amenities and destinations.

The site's creators, Matt Lerner, Mike Mathieu and Jesse Kocher, all of Seattle, say they were inspired by the nonprofit Siteline Institute to think of walking not just as a healthful physical activity for an individual but also as mental and social exercise that boosts interactions within a community.

Give it a try

Call for workshop session proposals to start next month

Grow Smart's inaugural Power of Place Summit in 2006 drew nearly 500 people and helped to launch Rhode Island's new state land-use plan, Land Use 2025.

Next May we'll reconvene citizen planners, state and local officials, builders and developers as well as architects, engineers, community stakeholders and nonprofit interest groups to examine the progress being made in implementing the plan at the state and local level.

The Summit will also bring together field experts and feature the latest in best practices and sustainable approaches to economic development, transportation, growth management, public health, land and natural resource conservation and affordable housing for vibrant, healthy communities.

Next month, we'll begin soliciting proposals for workshop sessions to be organized by interested stakeholder groups that are advancing the smart growth movement in Rhode Island.

View last year's agenda, speakers and attendee list

Click here to let us know if you would like your land-use/water resources related conference or workshop listed on our CommunityConnectionRI Calendar.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007 (8:30a - 4:00p)

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