RI Infrastructure Bank, TNC Announce $5.2 Million in Climate Action Grants

“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.”

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.”