Grants from Rhode Island Commerce Corporation Main Street program support storefront improvements; installation of hundreds of new trash & recycling bins, & bike racks in South Providence
Thursday, November 1, 2018
PROVIDENCE, RI – Mayor Jorge O. Elorza today joined City Council President David Salvatore, Ward 11 Councilor Mary Kay Harris and representatives from Trinity Square Together at Island House to unveil neighborhood improvements along Broad Street. The group highlighted 77 new trash cans and 65 recycling bins to promote proper waste disposal and realize a cleaner, more sustainable, and healthier city. Trash and litter have been among top concerns expressed by neighbors through various community outreach efforts focused on the future of Broad Street.
“We’ve heard directly from the South Providence community how we can help improve the quality of life and space along Broad Street,” said Mayor Jorge O. Elorza. “Thanks to the support of the RI Commerce Corporation and our community partners we’re making improvements that make this corridor cleaner, safer and more welcoming for businesses and people.”
Funding for the bins and 100 new bike racks was provided by the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation through a 2017 grant from the Main Streetscape Improvement Fund and through a partnership between the City and the Trinity Square Working Group. As part of the improvements, 12 custom trash cans made by fabricator and South Providence resident Julio Ortiz have been installed in Trinity Square.
“We are pleased to support this project as part of the Governor’s Main Street streetscape improvement program,” said Rhode Island secretary of Commerce Stefan Pryor. “These investments will help revitalize Providence’s Broad Street, a vital corridor of commerce in our capital city.”
Governor Gina Raimondo recently announced that the City of Providence was selected to receive an additional $47,000 in funding through a 2018 grant from the Main Street program which will be voted on at the November board meeting of the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. The state funds, which will be matched with $20,000 from property/businesses owners including America’s Food Basket at 863 Broad Street and Providence Hardware, Botanica San Lazaro, and Movil Zone located at 792-802 Broad Street, will be used for upcoming storefront improvements. The scope of work includes upgrades to signage, awnings, lighting, doors, and windows. The investments in storefronts aim to increase sales for existing business and attract additional businesses and investments to the area.
The future storefront upgrades and installation of the bins complement several city-led initiatives aimed to improve the quality of life and space in the neighborhood. In recent years, Broad Street has seen considerable infrastructure improvements with repairs to roads and sidewalks; creative placemaking work such as the implementation of Illuminating Trinity; plans for City Walk to make it safer for people to walk and ride bicycles, and better connect Providence neighborhoods; and the launch of the JUMP bike share program.
“It might seem strange for people to get excited about trash cans, but frankly, having them available on this super busy street with a lot of fast food and pedestrian traffic is a really important investment in our area,” said Deborah Schimberg, Facilitator of Trinity Square Together. “They complement our efforts to make Trinity Square exciting, safe, and attractive to everyone who lives and works, or just passes through the area.”
Providence has also seen significant progress in its residential recycling program through robust and targeted recycling education and outreach. As of July 2018, Providence’s weekly curbside recycling rate stood at 14.6% of total waste collected, the highest seen since April 2013. The City has also reduced its contaminated monthly residential recycling loads by 50% since 2015 and is on track to meet its goal of zero contaminated recycling loads by 2030.
The City remains committed to investments that celebrate diversity and cultural heritage; enhance the quality of life; foster thriving businesses; realize improved bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and incorporate better maintenance of the physical environment of the South Providence neighborhood.
Created by Governor Gina Raimondo, the Main Street Rhode Island Streetscape Improvement Fund awards grants or loans on a competitive basis for improvements to the state’s commercial districts, and projects can receive up to $300,000 in funding. Applicants must have matching funds of at least 30% of the total project cost.