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Infrastructure Bank: $5.2M for 8 of 19 city, town projects addressing frequent storms, flooding
Infrastructure Bank Announces $5.2 Million In Action Grants for Municipal Resilience Projects In 8 Communities Across Rhode Island
Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank has announced $5.2 million in Action Grants for participants of the Municipal Resilience Program (MRP). Communities prioritized local actions through the program and will use grant funds to implement projects that will increase their climate resilience. Funding for the action grants comes from the 2022 voter approved Green Bond, which provided $16 million for municipal resilience projects. A previous round of $12 million in MRP Action Grants was awarded in January 2024.
“Our cities and towns are all feeling the impacts of more frequent storms and flooding events,” said Governor Dan McKee. “Thanks to this funding from the 2022 Green Bond, we can help our municipalities invest in resilient infrastructure and better adapt to meet the climate change challenge. This is a great example of a program that is working, and that is why I strongly endorse the Green Bond on November’s ballot, which includes additional resilience funding, and urge Rhode Islanders to vote yes on Question 4.”
“From more frequent and severe storms, to increased flooding, to coastal erosion, Rhode Island’s municipalities are experiencing the impacts of climate change,” said William Fazioli, Executive Director of Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank. “We need to help our cities and towns invest in more resilient infrastructure solutions, and that is what this $5.2 million in Municipal Resilience Program Action Grants will allow 8 communities across our state to do. Since 2019, we have awarded a total of $24 million for resilience projects, and this November we are urging Rhode Islanders to vote YES on the Question 4 Green Bond to approve an additional $10 million for resilient infrastructure investments.”
“As a coastal community, Providence is seeing the deep impacts of climate change. That is why my Administration has prioritized building partnerships and supporting initiatives that create a more sustainable, resilient city,” said Mayor Brett P. Smiley. “The funding from this grant will help protect Providence’s India Point Shoreline, bolstering flood mitigation and resilience against climate change impacts through sustainable, nature-based solutions. Targeted investments like this from the Green Bond help us build a healthier, more resilient Providence for our community and a more sustainable future for generations to come.”
Johnston, RI – Atwood/Hartford Flood Mitigation
“I am very grateful to Executive Director William Fazioli and everyone at the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank for the awarding of this $750,000 grant to Johnston,” said Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr. “These funds, along with millions more secured through federal aid, will further help Johnston address chronic flooding problems which continue to impact thousands of our residents. Specifically, these funds will help mitigate the constant flooding of our two main arterial roads of Hartford Avenue and Atwood Avenue, which when closed down, disconnects the northern and southern parts of Johnston and impedes highway access.”
With support from The Nature Conservancy, 38 of Rhode Island’s 39 municipalities have participated in the MRP workshop process to develop prioritized lists of actionable resilience plans and projects. Municipalities are then eligible to submit applications for MRP Action Grants with a 25% local match requirement.
For this round of MRP Action Grants, the Infrastructure Bank received 19 proposals totaling $11.4 million in grant requests- far exceeding currently available funding.
After a competitive review process, the selection committee (with representatives from the Infrastructure Bank, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Statewide Planning, and the Coastal Resources Management Council) recommended the following proposals to receive funding for implementation:
- Burrillville – $750,000 – Oakland Pump Station Resiliency Improvements
- Cranston – $240,000 – Furnace Hill Brook: Habitat & Flooding Concerns
- Hopkinton – $461,911 – Strengthening Flood Resilience
- Johnston – $750,000 – Atwood/Hartford Flood Mitigation – Phase 3
- Lincoln – $750,000 – Stormwater Infrastructure Improvements
- Middletown – $750,000 – Green End and Berkeley Culvert Replacement
- Providence – $750,000 – India Point Park Shoreline Improvements Project
- South Kingstown – $750,000 – Saugatucket Culvert Improvements
For this round of MRP Action Grants, the Infrastructure Bank also partnered with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) to review applications to RIDEM’s Climate Resilience Fund (CRF), which is designed to work in tandem with MRP. Another $1.1 million from the CRF will be allocated to resiliency and habitat restoration projects across the state. RIDEM anticipates announcing CRF award winners in October.
“Rhode Island’s communities face significant and diverse risks from climate change, and the projects funded by RIIB in this round of MRP grants represent more critical investments to prepare our state for the continued impacts from climate change,” said DEM Director Terry Gray. “Rising seas, increased damage from storm events, flooding, and erosion all have obvious and measurable impacts in our neighborhoods, especially for our most vulnerable residents. I urge Rhode Island voters to approve Question 4 in November, as passage of the 2024 Green Bond will further fund projects that will increase our communities’ resilience against climate change.”
“The Nature Conservancy has proudly partnered with the Infrastructure Bank to facilitate municipal resilience planning in nearly every Rhode Island municipality, and we are thrilled to see cities and towns taking advantage of action grants to implement necessary resilience related projects in their communities,” said Sue AnderBois, The Nature Conservancy’s Director of Climate and Government Relations. “We can keep this momentum going by voting yes on the Question 4 Green Bond in November, which includes additional funding for implementing resilient infrastructure solutions.”
Descriptions of Proposals:
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About Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank
Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank is Rhode Island’s central hub for financing infrastructure improvements for municipalities, businesses, and homeowners. We leverage capital in a revolving fund to offer innovative financing for an array of infrastructure-based projects including water and wastewater, road and bridge, energy efficiency and renewable energy, and brownfield remediation. These quality of life projects improve the State’s infrastructure, create jobs, promote economic development and enhance the environment. For more information, please visit www.riib.org.
About The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions such as Community Resilience Building to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in 72 countries, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.