Infrastructure Bank awards $12 million
in action grants to 19 communities

Newport, RI On January 25^th, Infrastructure Bank joined with governor Dan McKee and mayor Xaykham Khamsyvoravong to award $12 million in Municipal Resilience Program Action Grants to 20 projects in 19 communities across Rhode Island. Projects like making Newport’s King Park more resilient to the impacts of more frequent coastal flooding by removing a portion of the existing seawall, expanding the beach area, and planting salt tolerant plants.

Over just the last few weeks, communities across the state have experienced the effects of extreme storms, severe flooding, and coastal erosion, all of which are anticipated to increase due to the impacts of climate change. Rhode Island needs to invest in resilient infrastructure solutions now, and that is exactly what this $12 million in 20 Municipal Resilience Program Action Grants will allow 19 communities across the state to do. Infrastructure Bank looks forward to continuing to work with city and town partners through the Municipal Resilience Program, and to partnering with state and federal leaders to create a sustainable financial framework to address the mounting challenges posed by acute and chronic climate related events.

For this round of MRP Action Grants, the Infrastructure Bank received 41 proposals from 30 communities, totaling $52 million in grant requests. Far exceeding currently available funding.

After a competitive review process, the selection committee recommended the following proposals to receive funding for implementation:

• Barrington - $112,500: Coastal Adaptation Projects: Latham Park, Allin’s Cove, Water Way

• Bristol - $113,225: Urban Forest Municipal Resilience Project

• Central Falls - $147,795: Dexter St. Stormwater Resiliency Project

• Charlestown - $203,085: Engineering, Design, Permitting, and Community Outreach for the Charlestown Breachway and Adjacent Barrier Island Complex Restoration

• Coventry - $100,000: Tiogue Lake Stormwater/Flooding Mitigation Project

• East Providence - $1,800,000: Crescent Park Shoreline Protection & Slope Stabilization

• Glocester - $59,950: Flood Prevention Infrastructure Upgrades

• Hopkinton - $1,344,088: Strengthening Flood Resilience through Road and Stream Crossing Upgrades

• Johnston - $340,000: Atwood Ave. & Hartford Ave. Stormwater Management

• Lincoln - $84,400: Front St. Stormwater Improvements

•Middletown - $69,600: Floodproofing Paradise Ave. Pump Station

• New Shoreham - $465,000: Corn Neck Rd. Dune Restoration

• Newport - $2,392,884: King Park Shoreline Resilience Improvements

• North Providence - $80,500: Fruit Hill Ave. West Area Stormwater Drainage Improvements

• Pawtucket - $156,500: Daggett Ave.Green Infrastructure Corridor

• Providence - $1,000,000: Public Street Waterfront Access & Green Infrastructure Project

• Providence - $225,000: Mashapaug Watershed Water Quality Improvements

• South Kingstown - $85,000: Saugatucket Stormwater Culvert Improvements

• Warren - $1,250,000: Jamiel’s Park Living Shoreline and Landfill Closure Resilience Project

• Woonsocket - $2,000,000: Truman Dr. Green Infrastructure Parkway.

All Rhode Island cities and towns that have completed a workshop are eligible to apply for the Municipal Resilience Program. A second round of funding is expected to be released in spring 2024.