90-second clip | NBC-10 - 11.05.09
Click above to watch
Hope for Rhode Island:
Misleading business-climate rankings
Following his 11.5.09 commentary in the Providence Journal, Grow Smart RI Executive Director Scott Wolf had the opportunity to share Grow Smart's outlook with NBC-10's Bill Rappleye as part of his coverage of House lawmakers' strategy session to rescue Rhode Island's struggling economy.
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Click the image above to see a 3-minute video
about why The Rhode Island
Foundation supports
Grow Smart.
Board member in the
News
PBN: Five Questions with
B. Michael Rauh, Jr.
The Washington Trust Co. is constructing a new
branch in Warwick. The bank intentionally hired local
contractors to complete the job. Washington Trust's B.
Michael Rauh Jr., executive vice president for sales,
service and delivery, recently took a few minutes to
discuss the project.
Read
more in PBN
Grow Smart Rhode IslandBoard of
Directors
Howard M. Kilguss
Chairman of the Board
Susan Arnold
William Baldwin
Rebecca G. Barnes
Samuel J. Bradner
Kenneth Burnett
Joseph Caffey
Robert L. Carothers
Jen Cookke
Trudy Coxe
Dennis DiPrete
Stephen Durkee
Stephen J. Farrell
Michael L. Friedman
Wilfred L. Gates
John R. Gowell, Jr.
Akhil C. Gupta
Stanley J. Kanter
Jason E. Kelly
Dennis Langley
James Leach
Thomas V. Moses
William M. Pratt
B. Michael Rauh, Jr.
Richard Schartner
Lucie G. Searle
Deming E. Sherman
Pamela M. Sherrill
John C. Simmons
Curt Spalding
Jonathan F. Stone
James F. Twaddell
Directors Emeritus
Arnold "Buff" Chace
Louise Durfee, Esq.
J. Joseph Garrahy
Michael S. Hudner
Michael F. Ryan
Frederick C. Williamson
W. Edward Wood
Board Listing with
Affiliation
Staff
Scott
Wolf
Executive Director
Sheila
Brush
Director of Programs
John
Flaherty
Director of Research &
Communications
Leslie
Denomme
Executive Assistant for Finance
Dorothy
Dauray
Office Assistant
Lauren
Pendergast
Training Coordinator
Save-The-Date
Grow Smart RI will present its 3rd Biennial
Power of Place Summit on
Friday, May 14, 2010
at the RI Convention Center. Sponsorship
opportunities and a "Call for Workshop Proposals" to
be released
soon. Click HERE
to review the 2008 program.
Warwick Intermodalon track
On November 3, 2009 crews install windows on
the skywalk that will connect the Sundlun Terminal at
Green Airport with a rental car garage and railroad
station platform.
Read more from
Farm
Fresh
Projo photo | Kathy Borchers
Skip Paul of Wishing Stone Farms in Little Compton
unloads fresh produce while Jenn Baumstein marks
the checklist. Farm Fresh RI's Market Mobile program
makes it easier for farmers to sell their goods to
grocers, restaurants and schools.
Farm Fresh
RI
Projo:
Smaller cities seen leading the way in urban
agriculture
Leaders put focus on transportation in Northern
Rhode Island
Grow Smart's Scott Wolf participates in an
October 26th panel discussion about regional
transportation and economic development issues
affecting northern Rhode Island. The panel was part
of a Congressional Breakfast, featuring U.S. Senator
Jack Reed, presented by the Pawtucket Foundation
and the Northern RI Chamber of Commerce.
View
video presentation
Read more from the Valley
Breeze
Read a follow-up
letter
by Pawtucket Mayor James E. Doyle
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Visit our Smart GrowthResource Directory
Grow Smart Rhode Island Workshops
Miss a previous e-brief?
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John,
You're among the 3,238 civic leaders,
state & local officials, development professionals,
journalists and visionary citizens getting the latest
news, happenings and trends in the smart growth
movement from Grow Smart
Rhode Island.
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| UNFI brings corporate headquarters, 181 jobs to rehabbed mill space in Providence |
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United Natural Foods - the largest wholesaler of
natural and organic foods in the country - becomes
the latest company to locate its headquarters in
redeveloped mill space in Rhode Island
Despite the "Great Recession", the few
bright spots in Rhode Island's economic landscape
are shining light on a trend that may hold a key to the
state's future prosperity and to achieving multiple
community development and energy efficiency goals.
The adaptive re-use of historic mill buildings is not
new to Rhode Island, but it's a concept that's gaining
favor in a state with an abundance of them in
'location-efficient' and transit-friendly urban, town and
village centers.
Grow Smart has been conferring with officials at
the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation
since March to help shape a Strategic Plan for Office
and Industrial Site Development - one that includes a
sharpened focus on attracting and incubating the type
of small and medium size businesses most attracted
to "location-efficient" spaces. "The relocation of United Natural
Foods to a rehabbed historic manufacturing complex
in Olneyville is an example of what can be achieved
when Rhode Island plays to its strengths",
said Scott Wolf, Executive Director of Grow
Smart RI, adding "Private
investments like these create a variety of well-paying
jobs and support the revitalization of our existing
building stock while reducing the pressure to develop
our state's remaining green spaces".
"What was really
attractive for us was that it was a reuse of an existing
mill building. It's a special space."
Tom Dziki, Vice President of Sustainable
Development, United Natural Foods, Inc.
 "We're psyched.
It
took an old brownfield and made it about as green as
it could be."
J. Michael Saul, Interim Executive
Director, RI Economic Development
Corporation
 Former mill a
natural fit for food firm - Projo
Other examples of revitalizing urban and town centers
with new uses for old spaces
Cutler Mills, Warren, RI
circa 1868
Cutler
Mills - Warren
AVTECH, worldwide IT leader in facility
management software and hardware, outgrew
its space in Newport and purchased the Cutler Mill in
2008 to become its new HQ. A number of other
commercial tenants also occupy the
building.
Hope Artiste Village - Pawtucket
Former mill complex restored with aid of state
historic tax credit in 2008. Mixed-use residential,
commercial, light industrial. Commercial space 90%
occupied with approximately 60 commercial tenants.
View 2-minute news
clip
Rumford
Center - East Providence
Recently completed mixed-use redevelopment of
the former Rumford Chemical Works. Includes
residential, office and retail tenants. Another state
historic tax credit project.
Thames Street Landing
- Bristol
One of the earliest state historic tax credit
projects, this $8.3 million mixed-use development
consisting of retail establishments, restaurant, pub,
offices, a 40-room inn, and apartments. The project
has been a central part of the town's revitalization plan
that reconnects the city with its historic harbor.
The Foundry
Corporate Office Center - Providence
Once the site of one of the industrial revolution's
most successful companies - the Brown & Sharpe
Manufacturing Company - the Foundry complex
continues to attract new innovative companies. More
than 2,000 people work in its restored spaces today,
which also include 350 loft-style apartments made
possible through the state historic tax credit.
Rising Sun Mill
- Providence
Former mill complex restored in 2006 with the
aid of the state historic tax credit. DASSAULT
SYSTEMES - Worldwide PLM leader and
software innovator, formerly known as Abaqus is lead
commercial tenant. IYRS
Mill (IYRS) - Newport
Former mill building. One of the most recent
state historic tax credit projects, the mill was converted
in 2008 to International Yacht Restoration School with
programs in traditional boatbuilding and marine
systems. The refurbished mill also houses 9
commercial tenants in downtown Newport.
United Theater -
Westerly
As one of the first land trusts in the nation to play
an active role in the redevelopment of downtown, the
Westerly Land Trust has purchased and is converting,
with the aid of the state historic tax credit, the long
vacant theater and adjacent building into a
multi-faceted arts complex geared to further the
revitalization of downtown business.
Morfessis backed as new EDC chief
 According to the
Providence Journal, the Rhode Island
Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC) Search
Committee is unanimous in its recommendation of
Ioanna T. Morfessis to become the next
RIEDC Director. Read more
from Projo.com.
Browse her curriculum vitae
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| Grow Smart takes its federal agenda to DC and RI's Congressional delegation |
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Scott Wolf teams up with national colleagues from
Smart Growth America to pitch policy reforms that
support community revitalization, better transportation
options and long-term, sustainable prosperity
In meetings on October 15th with Senators
Reed and Whitehouse,
Congressman Langevin and staff of
Congressman Kennedy, Grow
Smart Executive Director Scott Wolf made the case for
several federal initiatives that could have a big impact
on Little Rhody.
Among the bills promoted in the meetings:
H.R. 2724 - National
Transportation Objectives Act of 2009
Better supports affordable transportation
choices, economic development, and the types of
walkable, vibrant communities that Americans
increasingly desire.
H.R. 1043 - Amendments to
the Federal Historic Tax Credit
Raises the federal tax credit from 20% to 30%,
makes it more user-friendly, links it with housing
affordability objectives and makes the credit more
attractive to smaller rehab projects.
S 1619 - Livable
Communities Act of 2009
Provides funding and technical assistance to
coordinate transportation, housing and land use
planning and implement projects to create
economically competitive and livable
communities.
H.R. 1329 / S 575 - Clean,
Low-Emission, Affordable, New Transportation
Efficiency Act (CLEAN-TEA)
Dedicates 10 percent of cap-and-trade climate
funds to public transportation, inter-city rail, and the
infrastructure changes necessary to make our
communities more walkable to reduce the amount
people need to drive.
H.R. 1443 / S 584 -
Complete
Streets Act of 2009
Creates safer streets by requiring transportation
planners and engineers to consider the needs of
pedestrians, cyclists and the disabled when building
or rebuilding roads.
H.R. 932 / S 453 - The
Community Regeneration, Sustainability, and
Innovation Act
Would establish a three-year grant program to
help communities design and implement strategies
to deal with vacant and abandoned properties.
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| White House, Congressional caucus set sights on advancing urban agenda |
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Executive Order requires Federal agencies to set
greenhouse gas reduction targets; increase energy
efficiency; conserve water; and follow forthcoming
guidelines for locating federal buildings in or near
central business districts and close to transit.
Following the July 2009 launch of a HUD-USDOT-EPA
Partnership for Sustainable
Communities aimed at better coordinating federal
housing, transportation, and other infrastructure
investments, President Barack Obama wants the
federal government to lead by example in decisions it
makes that affect the environment and the health of
the nation's cities and towns. On October 5, 2009 he
signed Executive
Order 13514, entitled "Federal Leadership in
Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance".
Read more
 Then, on October 19, 2009,
Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) announced
the creation of a congressional Livable
Communities Task Force. Its mission is to make
the Federal Government a better partner with
communities in their efforts to improve quality of life.
With significant resources, and in coordination with
the administration's new Partnership for Sustainable
Communities, the Federal Government is poised to
help communities take advantage of federal and local
investment opportunities to provide a range of
housing and transportation choices, create safer and
healthier communities, strengthen their economies,
and protect their environment. Read
more.
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| Groundbreaking Senate Climate bill will promote expanded travel options |
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The latest version of the Senate climate-protection bill
put forth by U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA),
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment
and Public Works, would provide significant resources
and incentives to communities to plan and build
cleaner, more convenient travel and living options.
The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (S. 1733) would set aside an
average of 2.4 percent of revenues generated by the
Act each year to help states and metropolitan areas
reduce greenhouse gas emissions as they grow and
change in the years to come. Half of the funds would
support a competitive grants program for
transportation projects and smart growth strategies
that help reduce emissions and the planning needed
to better account for and curb emissions. The other
half would support the expansion of public
transportation.
Read
More
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| CALENDAR Highlights: |
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Click here to let us know if you would like your
land-use/water resources related conference or
workshop listed on our CommunityConnectionRI
Calendar.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009 (5:30 -
7:30 p.m.)
Sponsored by RIDEM and the Narragansett Bay
Research Reserve Coastal Training Program. Peter
Ruggiero, Esq., AICP, Ruggiero, Orton & Brochure, will
explain how conservation easements are drafted,
reviewed, put into action, and effectively enforced to
ensure that conservation parcels remain protected in
perpetuity. Advance registration required.
Location: Room 300, RI Department of
Environmental Management
Providence
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| 'Growth & Development' in the news |
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us Your News.
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