Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, RI – Governor Dan McKee today was joined by Lt. Governor Sabina Matos and members of the I-195 Commission to cut the ribbon on Emblem 125, a new mixed-used development in the Innovation and Design District in Providence. The project is home to 248 units which include specific units for workforce housing and over 22,000 square feet of ground floor retail space.
“Emblem 125 is a great additional to the Innovation and Design District,” said Governor Dan McKee. “Both the residential and the retail components will contribute to the livelihood and the energy of the district, making the area even more attractive to entrepreneurs and other businesses.”
“Bordered by urban trails, Emblem 125 is part of a better-connected Providence that is accessible to all,” said Lt. Governor Sabina Matos. “Developments like this one strengthen our communities by making it easier to live, work, and shop within your own neighborhood. I’m looking forward to working with our partners across the state to build more housing and make Rhode Island an even better place to live.”
“This is an exciting day for the Commission as we celebrate the completion of another high-quality project in the District,” said Marc Crisafulli, Vice Chair of the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission. “We appreciate the successful partnership with EQT Exeter and are thankful for the leadership of Governor McKee and our colleagues in government who made sure that projects like this one stayed on track even during the most difficult time in our state’s history.”
“EQT Exeter is humbled and proud to be a part of such a transformational project for Providence and Rhode Island,” said Gianni Parente, Investment Officer. “We were drawn to the project because of the ambition and promise of the I-195 Redevelopment District, and over the last four years, we have seen that promise come to life. We thank the I-195 Commission, the State of Rhode Island, the neighborhood, and all of our partners on this project for allowing us to be a part of this process.”
Emblem 125 is located on parcel 28 in the center of the Innovation and Design District – bordered by Clifford, Richmond, Friendship and Chestnut streets. The project was developed by Exeter Property Group and the architects were Torti Gallas and ZDS.
Today’s ribbon cutting comes just a week after Governor McKee and state officials broke ground on a 212,000 square-foot, 7-story building in the Innovation and Design District that will house the State’s new health lab, life sciences labs for Brown University, and additional bio-technology space in the state’s Innovation and Design District on the former I-195 land.
###

PROVIDENCE, RI – Governor Dan McKee announced that tomorrow is the first day of Open Enrollment for Rhode Island’s health insurance marketplace, HealthSource RI (HSRI). From November 1, 2022 through January 31, 2023, individuals can enroll, change or renew their health coverage at HealthSourceRI.com/OE or 1-855-840-HSRI (1-855-840-4774).
To support this effort, trained and certified HSRI staff will hold the first of several virtual information sessions at 9:30 a.m. on November 3. Sign up information, as well as additional info sessions, can be found at HealthSourceRI.com/Events.
“Rhode Island is a national leader in health coverage, and the health and well-being of each and every Rhode Islander remains a priority,” said Governor Dan McKee. “We’re fortunate that HealthSource RI continues to provide Rhode Islanders with affordable options for high-quality coverage. Applying is easy and I encourage Rhode Islanders in need of health coverage to compare plans and find the one that works best for them.”
Since 2013, HSRI has decreased the uninsured rate by more than two thirds. Today, 97 percent of Rhode Islanders have health coverage, among the highest insured rates in the country. HSRI is the only place Rhode Islanders can receive financial help to pay for their health coverage. Currently, 6 out of 7 HSRI customers receive financial assistance.
“As we head into our tenth open enrollment period, I’m happy to share that we have reached an all-time low uninsured rate in Rhode Island of 2.9%” said HSRI Director Lindsay Lang. “Our goal however, is to reach near-universal insurance. To that end, we’re making the process of getting and staying covered easier than ever by offering many ways to enroll or renew.”
In addition to the virtual information sessions, HSRI offers live web chat services in English and Spanish where individuals can ask questions, reset their passwords, and get enrollment support from a live expert on HealthSourceRI.com. One-on-one enrollment support is available in-person, via phone, or virtually through HSRI’s Navigator agencies. Individuals can also make appointments for assistance at HSRI’s Walk-In Center at 401 Wampanoag Trail in East Providence. Appointments can be booked at HealthSourceRI.com/OE. Enrollment support is also available by calling 1-855-840-4774.
Rhode Islanders have until December 23, 2022 to pick and pay for coverage that starts January 1, 2023. The last possible day to enroll and pay for a 2023 plan is January 31, for coverage that starts February 1, 2023. For the most up to date information about HSRI’s Open Enrollment period, and additional customer service information, visit HealthSourceRI.com/OE or call 1-855-840-HSRI (1-855-840-4774).
The mission of HealthSource RI is to help Rhode Islanders easily navigate the complex health insurance landscape and enroll in a plan that works best for their individual and family needs. HSRI’s Plan Comparison and Savings Tool lets families estimate their monthly premium and out-of-pocket costs, identify financial help and find in-network doctors. With continued federal subsidies and various enrollment assistance options, HSRI is ensuring that Rhode Islanders have access to high-quality, low-cost health insurance.
###

PROVIDENCE, RI – Governor Dan McKee today was joined by Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation, Lt. Governor Sabina Matos, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), the Department of Human Services (DHS), and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) to announce $8.5 million in first-round funding from the Early Childhood Care and Educational Capital (ECCE) Fund. The fund, approved by voters during the March 2021 special election, allocates $15 million to support childcare facilities in Rhode Island.
This first round of awards will support 15 projects, and result in the improvement or creation of more than 1,200 childcare spots in the state. Additional awards will be made until the fund is totally allocated.
Public support for spending to create and improve childcare facilities was strong, with nearly 67 percent voting to affirm. After a rigorous review process, the first round of awardees has been selected. Childcare is critical to the economic health of families and the state. This funding will be used to improve health and safety outcomes and address physical space barriers to quality improvement; and provide for the expansion of quality programming throughout the state. Decades of research show that high-quality early care and education programs can improve children’s cognitive and social-emotional development, enabling children to perform better in school.
“My administration has prioritized ensuring that every Rhode Islander, regardless of where they’re from or where they’re raised, has a strong, solid start in life,” said Governor Dan McKee. “That’s why this $8.5 million in funding is so crucial. We’re making investments to expand and improve the child care infrastructure of our state, which is critical to our state’s economic health and to a family’s overall well-being.”
“High-quality child care is critical to child development and it’s essential for economic security for working families and employers alike,” said U.S. Senator Jack Reed. “These resources build on the $130 million federal investment we’ve made in Rhode Island’s child care and Head Start sector over the last two years. We must also ensure that child care workers get paid fairly and that their paychecks reflect the essential, critical work they do.”
“The strength of Rhode Island’s economy and workforce is built on the foundation of high-quality, affordable child care and early education. Improving child care facilities will set kids up for success while providing much-needed support for working parents,” said U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.
“Ensuring that every Rhode Island family has access to high-quality, affordable, and reliable childcare is one of the most effective ways we can address the gender pay and wealth gaps. Throughout the pandemic, women left the workforce in droves because they did not have access to consistent childcare,” said U.S. Congressman James Langevin. “This critical investment allows children to thrive in safe, stimulating environments and parents to return to work knowing that their children are being well cared for.”
“In March 2021, Rhode Islanders made clear that our state not only values childcare and early learning, but that we know how important it is to make investments in these essential services and the providers who work with our children every day,” said U.S. Congressman David Cicilline. “The COVID-19 pandemic, and the shifts it required us to make in how and where we work, laid bare just how critical childcare and childcare professionals are to parents, children, and the economy. Today, with the announcement of $8.5 million in initial awards through the Early Childhood Care and Education Capital Fund, we deliver some of the support childcare and education providers need to best care for Rhode Island’s children.”
“The Early Childhood Care and Education Capital Fund ensures that children, educators, and child care professionals alike will be able to attend facilities that reflect that Rhode Island’s national leadership in early education,” said Lt. Governor Sabina Matos. “Between the continuing distribution of ECCE funds and this year’s passage of a path to universal Pre-K, RI has more opportunities than ever for children to get a strong head start in their education.”
Said DHS Acting Director Kimberly Merolla-Brito: “Today’s announcements represent a tremendous investment in our early learning and childcare community. The response to this process and now the growth and opportunity that will come from these dollars is exciting and shows great promise for childcare in general, and for our awardees.”
“As the Chair of the Children’s Cabinet, I am pleased to see so much support for child care facilities in Rhode Island,” said Ana Novais, Acting Secretary, Executive Office of Health and Human Resources. “I am grateful to our Congressional Delegation, our state partners and of course, the Rhode Island voters who prioritized these investments for our youngest learners. These funds will make a difference as we improve and expand child care access.”
“The grant process opened in early July, and we quickly received applications for nearly twice the available funds,” said Erin Cox, AIA, Senior Program Officer at LISC Rhode Island. “Which speaks to the critical need in the community. We conducted a thorough review of the proposals and the facilities and made recommendations for final approval with a broader selection committee. We’re excited to announce these awards with the Governor today.”
The Request for Proposal received 95 letters of intent totaling more than $30 million in grant requests. Awardees from the first round of applications are divided into three categories including large scale construction and renovation projects to create new early learning slots, smaller scale renovations and reconfigurations that will increase the capacity of an existing facility and capital projects to improve existing facilities. Each awardee submitted a robust proposal with architectural schematics and received site visits for evaluation and technical assistance.
The results include five expansion projects totaling more than $7.8 million and creating nearly 500 new slots, and 10 capital improvement projects totaling $700,000 and improving more than 700 childcare spots. Additional grantees will be awarded in the coming months.
LISC has developed a robust childcare facilities practice area over the past 20 years that works with providers to develop safe, high-quality learning environments. LISC worked with DHS to release the Letter of Intent and application process, while also providing informational sessions and weekly office hours to help program providers prepare requests. After reviewing the applications, recommendations were made to a broader committee for determination of recipients.
Additional applications for funding will be accepted on a rolling basis with Letters of Intent being submitted to riecce-capitalfund@lisc.org by Friday, March 24, 2023. As Letters of Intent are advanced for proposal, these completed application documents must be submitted by the end of day on Friday, April 21, 2023, for consideration.
About the Local Initiatives Support Corporation: LISC is a national nonprofit that equips communities with the capital, program strategy and know-how to become places where people can thrive. Since 1991, LISC Rhode Island has invested more than $460 million in Rhode Island and attracted an additional $1.5 billion from public and private sources resulting in more than 9,106 affordable homes and apartments and more than 2.5 million square feet of retail and community space.
###

PROVIDENCE, RI – The power of public-private partnerships united in purpose and focused on solving difficult problems was exemplified again today when local farmers and food security advocates joined government leaders in packing 103 boxes with local produce to be distributed to older Rhode Islanders in the Providence area who need them.
The group aligned around the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), which is playing a major role in fighting food insecurity for seniors by providing nutritious fruits and vegetables grown by local farmers. The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is working closely with the Office of Healthy Aging (OHA) to determine which communities are in most need of this assistance and to ensure the most helpful outcome. Participants included farmers who grew the produce, staff from Farm Fresh RI and Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island, U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (USDA-FNS) Acting Regional Administrator M. Christine Ruggieri, DEM Director Terry Gray, DEM Division of Agriculture and Forest Environment Chief Ken Ayars, and DEM staff along with Governor McKee’s Community Outreach Office and OHA.
Thus far in 2022, DEM and partners have provided more $220,000 worth of produce boxes to older Rhode Islanders in need. By the end of the year, this partnership will have made over 160 deliveries consisting of more than 9,000 produce boxes to senior centers, senior residences, and food pantries. Also, the SFMNP program has supported 30 local farmers, many of whom are black, indigenous, and people of color with small to medium-sized farm operations, by purchasing their locally grown produce for the boxes.
SFMNP provides low-income seniors with fresh, local vegetable and fruit boxes across the country. Fewer than one-third of older Americans eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables, which are vital to preventing and treating health problems. USDA-FNS has been running the program since 2001 with the annual Farm Bill passed by Congress providing federal funding. Seniors receive a free food box filled with local seasonal produce with a value of around $20. To learn more, please visit our website.
For more information about DEM divisions and programs, visit www.dem.ri.gov or follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates.

On Wednesday morning, November 9, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will close the bridge that carries Fish Road over the Sin and Flesh Brook in Tiverton. The road will be closed for approximately two weeks, reopening on November 23, while RIDOT replaces the deteriorated bridge.
During the closure, all traffic will follow the detour RIDOT established last winter for trucks, when the bridge was posted at 3 tons because of its deteriorated condition. Traffic will use Route 24, Main Road (Route 77) and Bulgarmarsh Road (Route 177) to detour. A map showing the detour route is available at www.ridot.net/DetourMaps [r20.rs6.net].
RIDOT’s $926,000 project will used accelerated bridge construction methods including pre-fabricated bridge units (PBUs). The PBUs are installed side-by-side to rapidly create a new bridge deck, saving considerable time compared to the conventional approach of forming and pouring a concrete bridge deck. These steps will allow the Department to complete the project four to six months faster than using conventional methods.
All construction projects are subject to changes in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings, and weather.
Fish Road carries about 9,000 vehicles per day.