News Coverage

Governor Gina M. Raimondo today announced that Rhode Island has been awarded an $8 million, 24-month grant to implement Central Providence Opportunities – a place-based initiative to increase social and economic mobility for residents of the 02908 and 02909 zip codes, and then scale these strategies statewide. The pilot initiative, set to commence next month, brings together the Governor’s office, state agencies, the Rhode Island Foundation, and ONE Neighborhood Builders. Governor Raimondo was joined by community partners at a Facebook Live event to launch this initiative. The video can be viewed here: facebook.com/GinaMRaimondo. “This initiative is a critical step in building a stronger,…

Blue Meridian invests $8 million in a new initiative being led by ONE Neighborhood Builders in Central Providence Jennifer Hawkins, executive director of ONE Neighborhood Builders, who will be shepherding a new $8 million pilot program focused on Central Providence WHY IS THIS STORY IMPORTANT? ONE Neighborhood Builders has been chosen to lead a new $8 million initiative funded by Blue Meridian Partners, focused on transforming lifetime trajectories for children and families in Central Providence. THE QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ASKED What kinds of data coordination can be done with the social determinants of health surveys conducted by ONE…

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island has been awarded an $8 million grant for a pilot initiative to increase social and economic mobility for city residents in the 02908 and 02909 zip codes, Gov. Gina M. Raimondo announced on Wednesday. The governor’s office said that the nonprofit Blue Meridian Partners made the two-year investment in the initiative, called Central Providence Opportunities, which will be managed by the Rhode Island Foundation. The foundation will serve as the fiscal sponsor of the initiative and provide technical assistance aimed at building toward a plan to scale the program statewide. The 24-month program will be a collaboration…

PROVIDENCE — Gov. Gina Raimondo on Wednesday announced an $8-million grant for a pilot initiative to increase economic opportunities and health equity in two central Providence zip codes. The grant will be funded by the philanthropic organization Blue Meridian Partners over the course of two years and will be managed by the Rhode Island Foundation. The investment will be focused in two central Providence zip codes, 02908 and 02909, which have been some of the state's hardest-hit areas during the coronavirus pandemic. Through Wednesday, 02909 had the second-most cases of COVID-19 per capita since the start of the pandemic. Zip code 02908…

Quality affordable housing proposed for Lower Fox Point The Fox Point Neighborhood Association recently endorsed a $23 million mixed-use development proposed for Parcel 9 of I-195 land, located in lower Fox Point just south of Wickenden Street, near the Our Lady of the Rosary Church. The “Ernestina” project, which was submitted for approval to the 195 Commission in August by the nonprofit organization ONE Neighborhood Builders, will include affordable apartments, a Children’s Friend child care center, community space, and a combination of onsite and nearby (leased) parking. ONE Neighborhood Builders adheres to the City’s Comprehensive Plan in developing this project, and FPNA points…

PROVIDENCE – Two developers with two visions for creating more mixed-income housing pitched their proposals Wednesday to the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission, competing for the right to develop Parcel 9 in Fox Point. The property, which runs alongside the exit from I-195 into South Main Street, is adjacent to the historical Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic church. In the request for proposal, issued by the commission earlier this year, the language stated clearly that projects involving housing that create workforce or affordable rate apartments would be given priority. The commission is expected to decide which proposal to move forward…