Your Turn: Pawtucket’s Director of Commerce reflects on a career built on fascination with cities – Jeanne Boyle

by Jeanne Boyle, for RINewsToday

After a nearly 40-year career as a planning and economic development professional, I have decided that retirement is my next step. I would like to spend more time with my family and friends. I was drawn to this field by my lifelong fascination with cities; their vibrancy, history, diversity, architecture and commerce.

My involvement in planning and economic development has given me the chance to work for communities ranging from the Bronx, Manhattan, East Providence, and most recently, Pawtucket. Each city offered unique challenges and at the same time gave me the opportunity to meet remarkable colleagues, citizens, entrepreneurs, and elected officials who were passionate about their cities and determined to bring the community’s best vision forward to reality.

I am grateful to have been able to be involved in so many exciting projects throughout the years. I have worked on projects as diverse as zoning for mid-town Manhattan, a marine terminal in Brooklyn, the first large-scale solar project in East Providence and helping to keep hundreds of high-wage aerospace jobs in RI. Waterfront redevelopment has been key to the future growth of East Providence, and I was fortunate to play a role in its formative years and I am excited to see it grow in momentum. Homes and businesses have been built in revitalized areas which were once abandoned and polluted industrial sites. New public piers are open for fishing and concerts and festivals take place on the now-vibrant waterfront.

Pawtucket is seizing just such an opportunity with its riverfront redevelopment that will include a soccer stadium, riverwalk, apartments and restaurants. Its new commuter train station district is also emerging as a destination for development and investment. I appreciate that I was given the chance to be part of such exciting initiatives that will transform the City for decades to come.

Several years ago, one of my sons was asked to write a school essay on a person who loved their job. He chose me as the subject of his essay. He recognized that I sincerely appreciated the chance to serve the people of the cities I worked for by dedicating my talents, knowledge, and love of community to make a difference.

As I reflect on my career, I know that I can look back with the realization that I helped the cities I worked in come closer to achieving their visions for their residents and businesses.

Jeanne M. Boyle

Director of Commerce, City of Pawtucket

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Jeanne Boyle is the Director of Commerce for the City of Pawtucket and is charged with the City’s economic development efforts, administering economic and job creation programs, and assisting in the attraction of new businesses and the retention of existing businesses.

She also serves as the Executive Director of the Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency.

She was Director of Planning and Development in East Providence for over 20 years and was Executive Director of the East Providence Waterfront Development Commission. She also served as City Manager during a transition period.

During her tenure as Director, East Providence and its planning department received numerous awards and recognitions.

A graduate of Williams College and the New York University Graduate School of Public Administration, Boyle participated in the Harvard Kennedy School’s Executive Education Program. She serves on numerous professional boards and committees including the RI State Planning Council and the RI Resource Recovery Corporation. She is a recipient of the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council’s 2014 Robert M. Goodrich Public Service Award, and Rhode Island-American Planning Association’s Distinguished Leadership Award.