PROVIDENCE, RI – Governor McKee, the Executive Office of Housing (EOH), and RIHousing today announced the awards for four technical assistance programs, each one encouraging an increase in housing production in Rhode Island. The 32 awards, totaling over $2.6 million in federal and state investments, will support municipalities and housing developers removing barriers to housing development and conducting predevelopment activities to expand the state’s new housing pipeline.
“Access to housing means access to health care, education, workforce opportunities, and a better future—and that's what's at the heart of this award program,” said Governor Dan McKee. “Thanks to a strong partnership between state and private leaders, we're streamlining production and breaking down barriers. Rhode Island remains fully committed to tackling the housing crisis head-on and lifting Rhode Islanders up and helping them along the Rhode to Prosperity.”
The awards, approved at meetings of the RIHousing Board of Commissioners and the Rhode Island Housing Development Corporation (RIHDC) Board of Directors, will be administered by RIHousing. (RIHDC is a nonprofit subsidiary of RIHousing).
In June, RIHousing issued a Request for Proposals for Rhode Island municipalities interested in applying for funding under the Municipal Technical Assistance Program (MTAP), Pipeline Development Program, and/or the Transit-Oriented Development Zoning Program (TOD). Each program connects municipalities with pre-approved consultants that provide support to advance local housing initiatives.
MTAP ($1,096,733 awarded): Funded through the Housing Production Fund, MTAP helps cities and towns expand local housing by providing technical assistance for eligible activities such as zoning updates, infrastructure assessments, site analysis, and community engagement.
Pipeline Program ($354,139 awarded): With this allocation from the Housing Resources Commission, awardees will receive assistance in identifying potential sites for the redevelopment of affordable or mixed-income housing and in moving forward with the development of these sites.
TOD ($603,339 awarded): Funding for the TOD program comes from State Fiscal Recovery Funds, appropriated by the General Assembly to the Executive Office of Housing, to support grants for municipalities to study and implement zoning changes to up-zone or otherwise enable additional housing development in proximity to transit.
“These technical assistance awards represent a smart, targeted investment in Rhode Island’s housing future,” said Secretary of Housing Deborah Goddard. “By funding the planning, zoning, and predevelopment work that must happen before construction begins, we’re laying the groundwork for the homes and communities Rhode Islanders will need for years to come.”
17 municipalities received funding through these three programs: Barrington, Central Falls, Coventry, Cranston, Cumberland, East Greenwich, East Providence, Foster, Hopkinton, Jamestown, Lincoln, North Providence, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Warren, Westerly, and West Greenwich.
In addition to the municipal programs, RIHDC approved nine awards totaling $644,580 under the Proactive Development Program (PDP). Funded through State Fiscal Recovery Funds, the program provides technical assistance through pre-approved vendors and consultants to developers and municipalities for pre-development work, including site analysis, engineering, permitting, and financial feasibility studies to help move housing developments forward. The RFP opened on July 7 and closed on August 22.
These awards will support housing projects in seven municipalities: Central Falls, Coventry, Cumberland, Pawtucket, Providence, Warwick, and West Greenwich.
With the housing challenges Rhode Island has faced in recent years, providing support for technical assistance is another way the state is stepping up and offering solutions. By offering grants for technical assistance and predevelopment activities, Rhode Island is creating a stronger foundation for long-term housing growth.
“The innovative technical assistance programs we’re offering through state and federal investments are critical to the expansion of housing in Rhode Island,” said Carol Ventura, CEO & Executive Director of RIHousing. “By providing technical support and predevelopment assistance to municipalities and developers, we are reducing or eliminating current barriers to increase housing and expanding the tools available to strengthen Rhode Island’s development pipeline.”
