Grow Smart and the Leadership Blackstone Valley Alumni Association are collaborating to present an innovative workshop series for Blackstone Valley municipal officials, community leaders and interested citizens. The 5-part workshop series is designed to promote smart land-use and growth strategies. Called The Next Communities Initiative, the program was developed by the New England Environmental Finance Center (EFC), a cooperative project of EPA/New England and the Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine. EFC has awarded a grant to Grow Smart and the Leadership Blackstone Valley Alumni Association to present this new series in the Blackstone Valley.

The series begins on Saturday, September 18th and continues with (4) Tuesday evening sessions. Cost is $30 for the entire series. Register by August 27.

- Click here to view the brochure
- Click here to print the registration form

Grow Smart and partners will present a series of one night workshops to help communities respond to the 2004 Affordable Housing Act. Co-sponsored by The Rhode Island Foundation and the United Way, the workshops are intended to answer questions that muncipalities have about the Act and to help officials develop and adopt sound, pro-active affordable housing plans as expeditiously as possible. Municipal officials, staff and interested citizens are welcome.

* Workshops are free, but seating is limited and advance registration is required

Tuesday, August 24 (4:00p - 8:30p)
Lincoln

Wednesday, August 25 (4:00p - 8:30p)
Kingston

Wednesday, September 1 (4:00p - 8:30p)
Portsmouth

- Click here for details and a registration form
- View our summary of the new law's provisions

The RI Office of Statewide Planning is making it easier for community leaders to manage growth with a new tool for updating or amending Comprehensive Community Plans.

The concept of "growth centers" (or priority investment areas) has been advanced by the Governors' Growth Planning Council as a way to "encourage compact, mixed-use development; preserve open space; conserve natural resources; fit the type of development to the capability of the land to support development; and promote a sense of community."

As a result, the Office of Statewide Planning recently released an addendum (pdf) to "Handbook 16" that provides clear direction for how cities and towns can begin incorporating growth centers into municipal Comprehensive Plans.

Hopkinton

Newport

National

EPA has released a new report that will help communities protect water resources and achieve smart growth. The report documents 75 innovative approaches - including redeveloping abandoned properties, encouraging rooftop gardens, creating shared parking, and promoting tree planting - that state and local governments and water quality professionals can use to achieve their smart growth and water quality goals.

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