Local filmaker profiles the birth and evolution of Pawtucket's arts district through adaptive reuse of empty century-old factory buildings as an engine of economic revival.
PAWTUCKET RISING, a documentary by Jason Caminiti, will air on Rhode Island PBS on Saturday, January 24 at 7 PM on channel 36, digital 36.1, Dish 7776, DirecTV 36, and on cable channel 8 in RI.
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Rhode Island.
Grow Smart sees opportunity to invest
wisely in RI's long-term sustainability
through emerging federal stimulus plan
Executive Director Scott Wolf and staff pledge to work
hand-in-hand with state government to ensure that
stimulus funding is put to best use, meets urgent
needs and invests in key assets such as public
transit, school facilities, historic buildings, fix-it-first
municipal infrastructure, affordable housing and
renewable energy, as well as roads and bridges in
disrepair
Since November, Grow Smart has been
in contact with officials in the Carcieri Administration
encouraging the state to mobilize an aggressive
effort to maximize the long-term potential of the
anticipated federal economic stimulus package.
In a January 7, 2009 letter to Governor Donald L.
Carcieri, Grow Smart Executive Director Scott Wolf
noted that the emerging stimulus package not only
offers an opportunity to gain a much needed, rapid
infusion of dollars into the Rhode Island economy, but
also an opportunity to make significant investments in
the building blocks of sustainable prosperity.
The letter also detailed the efforts and progress of
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and
Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell in preparing their
states to maximize the potential of the stimulus
program.
Governor Carcieri has appointed the heads of the
State Division of Planning and the Economic
Development Corporation to jointly reach out to
municipal leaders and state agencies to develop a list
of priority projects. Those project requests are due
back to the Division of Planning by Tuesday, January
27, 2009.
Grow Smart will continue to collaborate with leaders in
state and local government as well as numerous
NGO's to advance a recommended project list that
creates immediate jobs and lays the foundation for
longer-term sustainability.
According to Scott Wolf, "The pending stimulus
package represents an opportunity to invest in a
number of our key assets and therefore play effectively
to our strenghts".
Following a September 23, 2008 Transit Financing Summit organized in part by
Grow Smart and attended by a broad cross-section of
civic, political and business leaders, the New Public
Transit Alliance (NuPTA)
completed its report on December 19, 2008 and
forwarded its recommendations to Governor Donald
L. Carcieri and legislative leaders as they contemplate
how best to sustain a growing demand for public
transportation amidst significant needs for road and
bridge repairs.
The report emphasizes the important role that public
transportation plays in economic development and
environmental quality and lays out a menu of potential
funding options, recognizing that there is no silver
bullet and that not all of the options can or need to be
implemented simultaneously.
The recommendations build off the deliberations of
the Governor's Blue Ribbon Panel on Transportation
Funding, but also bring forward new ideas that link
transit funding with land-use and development and
with efforts to reduce road maintenance needs by
reducing wear and tear from excessive vehicle use.
Click on the image to the right to view the 2-minute
news segment about Youth in Action by NBC 10.
The potential budget and service cuts threatening
Rhode Island's statewide bus system could have a
major impact on those who ride the bus the most.
A group called Youth in Action has launched a Web
site to explain what impact RIPTA's financial crisis
has on them and riders statewide.
Many Providence high school students use the bus to
get to class and to school programs.
Program launches second semester with three
courses starting Thursday January 29th
Roger Williams University's Institute for Public Policy
and the School of Continuing Studies, in partnership
with the Housing Network of Rhode Island, have come
together to offer courses in community development.
The courses are aimed at enriching the professional
development of those already working in the field of
community development - where public policy,
affordable housing advocacy, finance, and
government regulation come together. The program
also offers newcomers the opportunity to develop a
useful skillset toward a new and exciting career.
All classes are offered at the Providence campus on
Washington Street in the evenings from 6-9pm. On
Mondays, Mary-Ellen Boyle, Ph.D. from Clark
University will teach "Sustainable Community
Economic Development", on Tuesdays, Kathy
Dorgan, AIA will teach "Elements and Issues
in Community Development" and on Thursdays,
June Speakman, Ph.D. of RWU will
teach "Non-profit Management".
Editor's Note: While Grow Smart
frequently provides links to other organization's
resources and data when we believe such information
contributes to a better understanding of smart growth,
this should not be considered an endorsement of an
organization, its positions, political opinions or
beliefs.
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