Up to 500 expected for biennial gathering of federal, state and local officials, business and civic leaders, real estate professionals, investors, architects, developers, builders, farmers and other community stakeholders

The theme of this year's Summit, "Beyond Austerity: Leveraging the Power of Place for a Stronger Rhode Island Economy", will drive the keynote address and the more than 20 workshops at the daylong forum.

At Grow Smart, we believe there's no reason why our dynamic and lovably quirky state can't have one of the nation's most prosperous economies and continue to be one of the most charming and distinctive of the 50 states. After all, it's about quality of place, not quantity of place.

Early bird registration fees will remain affordable again this year, ranging from $50 (students) to $75 (government and nonprofit) and $100 (regular rate). Online registration will open in March.

If you'd like to propose a Summit Workshop, download our Call for Workshop Proposals .

Thanks to an arrangment with our friends at the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Planning Association, many of the workshops will qualify for continuing education credits.

We're once again partnering with Providence Business News to produce the Summit Program as a special advertising insert to the March 26th edition of PBN.

Your logo can appear on the cover reaching more than 31,000 influential readers throughout Southeastern New England. Grow Smart also mails the program to our own audience of 5,000. Click the image to the right to view the 2010 program.

Download the sponsorship form.

Previous and/or current* sponsors include:

- AARP*

Click HERE for details

Smart Growth Awards Program

2012 marks the launch of Grow Smart Rhode Island's 'Smart Growth Awards' program. Awards will recognize individuals and the successful application of smart growth principles in Rhode Island to restore community prosperity and quality of place.

Award winners will be recognized during the Summit lunch.

Nominations are being accepted until COB on Monday, February 27th in the following categories:

Smart Growth Leadership Award

Outstanding Smart Growth Project

    (Urban, Suburban or Rural)

Outstanding Public Policy or Plan

Download Award Nomination Form

More Time for Networking

You spoke and we listened.

Following the 2010 Summit, many of you said that networking is one of the most valuable benefits and that you wanted more of it. So, we're shaving a modest amount of time off the length of workshops so you can spend more time networking and visiting exhibitors throughout the day.