GROW SMART RHODE ISLAND
144 WESTMINSTER STREET, PROVIDENCE, RI 02903 www.growsmartri.com

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Organizations Filed Purposes: GROW SMART RHODE ISLAND PROVIDES STATEWIDE LEADERSHIP ON SMART ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. WE FOCUS ON PROVEN POLICIES AND INCENTIVES THAT REVITALIZE URBAN AND TOWN CENTERS AND THAT PROTECT OUR REGION'S NATURAL ASSETS - FARMLAND, FOREST, COASTLINE, AND THE BAY.

PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND QUALITY OF PLACE; EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT POLICY OPTIONS.

OUTREACH AND COMMUNCATION1) GROW SMART RI CONTINUED ITS STEPPED UP COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY FOR TWO OVERRIDING PURPOSES A.) TO SUPPORT AN EXPANDED FUNDRAISING CAPACITY, AND B.) TO INCREASE GROW SMART'S INFLUENCE WITH TARGETED OPINION LEADERS, DECISION MAKERS AND THE PUBLIC.2) STAFF INITIALLY ENGAGED THE SERVICES OF THE JAI COMMUNICATIONS GROUP (JAI CG) OF PROVIDENCE IN FEBRUARY, 2015 TO HELP US DEVELOP AND EXECUTE A COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY TO MAXIMIZE OUR VISIBILITY AND INFLUENCE. OUR STRATEGIES NOW INCLUDE EARNED MEDIA, SOCIAL MEDIA (INCLUDING DIGITAL STORY-TELLING AND ADVERTISING), EMAIL MARKETING,A PODCAST, EVENTS AND PAID ADVERTISING.3) EARNED MEDIA: EARNED SIGNIFICANT FREE MEDIA IN 2019 RESULTING FROM REPORTS THAT GROW SMART RI PUBLISHED ON RI RAPID RAIL AND TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS FROM OUR INVOLVEMENT IN ADVOCATING IMPROVED RAIL CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN PROVIDENCE AND BOSTON, AND FROM PUBLIC POSITIONS THAT GROW SMART RI TOOK ON THE STATE'S FLAWED SOLAR SITING POLICIES THAT ARE DEVASTATING RI'S FORESTS, CONTROVERSIAL FUNDING CUTS THAT WERE MADE TO BIKE/PED TRANSPORTATION FUNDING BY RIDOT AND AN ILL-ADVISED PROPOSAL TO REMOVE MOST TRANSIT ACCESS IN KENNEDY PLAZA, THE STATEWIDE TRANSIT SYSTEM'S PRIMARY TRANSIT HUB.4) PUBLISHED 9 EPISODES OF "A QUALITY OF PLACE: THE GROW SMART RI PODCAST" TO PROMOTE AWARENESS AND SUPPORT AMONG A BROAD PUBLIC AUDIENCE. THE PODCAST NOW HAS OVER 6,100 DOWNLOADS AND SECURED ITS FIRST TWO CORPORATE SPONSORS IN 2019. 5) TO ENGAGE AND MOBILIZE LOCAL OFFICIALS AND ADVOCATES, WE HELD TWO REVITALIZE & REFRESH(MENTS) COMMUNITY-BUILDING NETWORKING EVENTS IN 2019, ONE IN SOUTH KINGSTOWN AND ANOTHER IN WARREN. 6)EMAIL MARKETING PODCAST: GROW SMART RI HAS BEEN UTILIZING CONSTANT CONTACT SINCE 2003 TO PRODUCE AND DISTRIBUTE NEWSLETTERS, EVENT INVITATIONS (AND RSVP'S), ACTION ALERTS, SURVEYS AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS TO A LARGE LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS, NOW TOTALING APPROXIMATELY 6,000. PUBLIC POLICYWE ORGANIZED OUR POLICY AND PROGRAM WORK IN 2019 UNDER THE FOUR GOALS DISCUSSED BELOW. A)PROMOTING AN ASSET BASED AND EQUITABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR RI, SPECIFIC 2019 DELIVERABLES/OUTPUTS ON THIS FRONT HAVE INCLUDED: WE PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN LATE 2019 IN CONJUNCTION WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAKEHOLDERS IN SHAPING A NEW SMART GROWTH ORIENTED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR RI, ONE THAT EMPHASIZES EXPANDING TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING CHOICES FOR RHODE ISLANDERS, BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO PURSUE MAJOR DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND TARGETING THE "BLUE ECONOMY" AS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT RI ECONOMIC SECTOR TO INVEST IN AND CULTIVATE. WE VIEW SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS THE UMBRELLA FOR MUCH OF OUR OTHER WORK. WE BELIEVE THAT RI SHOULD SUPPORT OUR EXISTING BUSINESSES AND SEEK OUT ENTREPRENEURS AND COMPANIES THAT VALUE WHAT RI HAS TO OFFER-ENERGY EFFICIENT DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS, OUTSTANDING HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND NEIGHBORHOODS WITH EXTENSIVE REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, ACCESSIBLE, USER FRIENDLY AIRPORTS AND SEAPORTS AND ABUNDANT, BREATHTAKING AND HIGHLY ACCESSIBLE NATURAL RESOURCES. B) INCENTING URBAN AND TOWN CENTER REVITALIZATION: ACHIEVING THOUGHTFUL AND COMPREHENSIVE URBAN AND TOWN CENTER REVITALIZATION IS A MAJOR GROW SMART RI PRIORITY THAT LINKS CLOSELY WITH OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORK. KEY 2019 COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION DELIVERABLES/ OUTPUTS FOR US HAVE INCLUDED: 1)WE LED THE SUCCESSFUL EFFORT TO SECURE ANOTHER ONE YEAR EXTENSION OF THE STATE HISTORIC TAX CREDIT PROGRAM (HTC). 2)PERSUADED COMMERCE RI AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ENACT REFORMS TO THE REBUILD RI TAX CREDIT PROGRAM THAT MAKE IT MORE USER-FRIENDLY FOR SMALL HISTORIC REHAB PROJECTS CRITICAL TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF OUR URBAN AND TOWN CENTERS. COMMERCE RI LATE IN 2019 TOOK THE ADDITIONAL STEP OF ANNOUNCING A SPECIAL $ 15 MILLION GRANT ROUND TARGETED TO SMALL HISTORIC REHAB, WORKFORCE HOUSING AND MANUFACTURING PROJECTS, A GRANT ROUND WE PROMOTED SYSTEMATICALLY AMONG OUR DEVELOPMENT ALLIES. 3)KEPT ALIVE EFFORTS TO FUND THE RI MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROGRAM THAT GROW SMART RI AND RIBA WERE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING ON THE BOOKS DURING THE 2018 GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THIS COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM IS MODELED AFTER A SIMILAR INITIATIVE THAT HAS STIMULATED SIGNIFICANT PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN URBAN AND TOWN CENTER LOCATIONS ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS. 4)STRENGTHENED THE CASE FOR THE KEY ROLE THAT TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT (TOD) CAN PLAY IN EXPANDING SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC AND HOUSING DEVELOPMENT THROUGH A MAJOR STUDY THAT WE PUBLISHED WITH HOUSINGWORKS RI AND ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY TITLED "EVALUATING THE POTENTIAL FOR TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT IN RI" , A STUDY WHOSE PUBLICATION GENERATED A NUMBER OF MEDIA STORIES.5)WE ADVOCATED FOR POLICIES THAT HAVE PROVEN SUCCESSFUL IN MASSACHUSETTS FOR ACCELERATING HOUSING PRODUCTION IN SMART GROWTH LOCATIONS, NAMELY 40R AND 40S. OFFICIALS AT COMMERCE RI CONVENED A STAKEHOLDERS GROUP THAT INCLUDED US TO EXAMINE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE 40R AND 40S-LIKE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROVIDE INCENTIVES TO MUNICIPALITIES TO ENACT HIGHER DENSITY ZONING ALONG TRANSIT ROUTES AND TO COMPENSATE THEM FOR PROVEN ADDITIONAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH EDUCATION.C) STRENGTHENING OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM: THIS REMAINS A MAJOR GROW SMART RI PRIORITY AND ONE OF THE ASPECTS OF THE SMART GROWTH AGENDA FOR WHICH RI IS MOST IN NEED OF MORE CREATIVITY, CIVIC COMMITMENT AND FUNDING. SPECIFIC 2019 DELIVERABLES/OUTPUTS FOR US HAVE INCLUDED:1)INFLUENCED THE DEVELOPMENT OF WHAT'S EXPECTED TO BE A BOLD STATE TRANSIT MASTER PLAN, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND FOR RHODE ISLAND, AFTER SUCCESSFULLY CONVINCING GOVERNOR RAIMONDO TO INITIATE IT IN 2018. WHEN THE PLAN IS ANNOUNCED IT PROMISES TO OUTLINE AN AMBITIOUS SET OF INVESTMENTS FOR BUILDING OUT A TRANSIT SYSTEM THAT BETTER CONNECTS PEOPLE WITH JOBS, DAILY DESTINATIONS AND THAT ENHANCES RHODE ISLAND'S COMPETITIVENESS, COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION, PUBLIC HEALTH WHILE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING CARBON EMISSIONS. 2)PARTNERED WITH TRANSIT ADVOCATES IN MASSACHUSETTS TO SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATE FOR A COMMITMENT BY THE MBTA TO TRANSFORM ITS COMMUTER RAIL SYSTEM INTO A REGIONAL RAPID RAIL NETWORK THAT WILL OPERATE FASTER, CLEANER, HIGH-FREQUENCY RAIL SERVICE BETWEEN BOSTON AND RHODE ISLAND, INCLUDING STOPS IN PAWTUCKET/CENTRAL FALLS, PROVIDENCE, T.F. GREEN AIRPORT AND WICKFORD JUNCTION, AS WELL AS THE ADDITION OF WEEKEND SERVICE. 3)OUR STAFF COLLABORATED WITH FORMER MA GOVERNOR MICHAEL DUKAKIS AND WITH ROBERT YARO OF UPENN (FORMERLY OF THE REGIONAL PLAN ASSOCIATION) AND SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VETERAN KIP BERGSTROM TO ADVANCE A BROADER HIGH-PERFORMANCE REGIONAL RAIL NETWORK THAT WOULD BETTER CONNECT NEW ENGLAND'S LEGACY CITIES WITH THE POWERHOUSE ECONOMIES OF BOSTON AND NEW YORK. 4)ADVANCED THE COMPLETE STREETS MOVEMENT IN RHODE ISLAND, AS BOTH PORTSMOUTH AND NEWPORT PASSED RESOLUTIONS EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR A DRAFT GREEN & COMPLETE STREETS ORDINANCE, WITH EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY SUPPORT FROM GROW SMART RI. D) ENHANCING THE DYNAMISM AND DURABILITY OF OUR FARMING, FOOD AND FORESTRY SECTORS. SPECIFIC 2019 DELIVERABLES/OUTPUTS WE ACHIEVED INCLUDED:1)IN TERMS OF SOLAR SITING REFORM, WE COORDINATED A LETTER FROM US AND SEVERAL OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL ALLIES TO THE RI PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION URGING THE PUC TO OFFER FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ENCOURAGE SOLAR CANOPIES IN PARKING LOTS AND OTHER DEVELOPED/DISTURBED SITES. THE PUC DID APPROVE ECONOMIC INCENTIVES TO ENCOURAGE SOLAR CANOPIES. 2)WE ALSO WERE SUCCESSFUL IN BLOCKING A SO-CALLED SOLAR SITING REFORM BILL IN THE 2019 GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION WHICH WE BELIEVED WOULD STILL ALLOW FOR MAJOR SOLAR PROJECTS ON RI'S PRIME FOREST AND FARM LANDS. 3)AT THE INVITATION OF THE TOWN OF GLOCESTER, WE REVISED AND REDRAFTED ITS SOLAR SITING ORDINANCE AND ALSO DEVELOPED A DRAFT SOLAR ORDINANCE FOR SCITUATE4)HELPED TO DEVELOP STATE GUIDANCE FOR MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE SITING OF SOLAR DEVELOPMENT.5)TRAINED DOZENS OF LOCAL OFFICIALS REGARDING SOLAR SITING BEST PRACTICES.6)TO STRENGTHEN FOREST CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN RI, WE HELPED LAUNCH A STATE FOREST CONSERVATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT DEVELOPED THE RHODE ISLAND FOREST VALUES REPORT, A REPORT THAT DOCUMENTS THE MULTIPLE VALUES OF RI'S FORESTS AND ASSESSES OPTIONS TO PREVENT FURTHER FOREST LOSS IN RI.7)COORDINATED WITH OTHER FOREST CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS TO ADVOCATE FOR $5 MILLION IN THE NEXT GREEN ECONOMY BOND TO PURCHASE THE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS TO RI'S MOST IMPORTANT FOREST LANDS. WE ARE PLEASED TO REPORT THAT $3 MILLION FOR THE ACQUISITION OF FARM AND FOREST LAND WAS INCLUDED IN THE GOVERNOR'S GREEN ECONOMY BOND PROPOSAL. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME RI BOND MONEY HAS BEEN SPECIFICALLY PROPOSED FOR FOREST LAND ACQUSITION AND CONSERVATION.

EDUCATION1) GROW SMART RI'S ON-GOING MANAGEMENT OF THE 20 MEMBER LAND USE TRAINING COLLABORATIVE PROVIDES A STRUCTURE FOR STATE AGENCIES AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO COMBINE REOURCES TO DEVELOP AND OFFER CAPACITY-BUILDING WORKSHOPS ON A RANGE OF LAND USE TOPICS.2) IN 2019, GROW SMART RI TRAINED NEARLY 400 LOCAL OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS IN SMART GROWTH TECHNIQUES, INCLUDING PLANNING FOR RESILIENCY AND SHAPING STRONGER MAIN STREETS, AS WELL AS HOW TO MAKE SOUND AND LEGAL LAND USE DECISIONS FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.

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