Announcing our First Main Street Learning Cohort!
Eleven communities selected to participate in the inaugural Learning Cohort Program as part of our Main Street RI Initiative
Grow Smart RI is thrilled to announce the selection of eleven communities for participation in our inaugural Learning Cohort Program as part of our Main Street RI Initiative.
Main Street RI was established to manage a statewide network of community organizations and individuals with an interest in nurturing vibrant walkable commercial districts, including Main Streets, village centers, and downtowns. The program, which serves as the state coordinating program aligned with the national organization, Main Street America, builds capacity at the local level using the proven and comprehensive “Four Points Main Street Approach” for place-based, community-led economic development.
Teams from the participating communities in the Main Street Learning Cohort will attend a series of workshops and training opportunities led by Main Street America experts in commercial district design, economic vitality, promotion, and organization. Technical assistance will be provided in the process of developing transformation strategies that draw upon each community’s assets and market opportunities.
The eleven communities chosen for participation through competitive application include:
- Downtown Pawtucket
- Downtown Woonsocket
- Central Falls
- Providence – Trinity Square
- Providence – Mt. Hope Community Center Business Alliance
- Cranston/Rolfe Square/Knightsville/Edgewood
- Warwick/Conimicut Village/Oakland Beach
- North Kingstown/Wickford Village/Post Road
- South Kingstown/Wakefield
- Richmond/Wyoming/Rt. 138
- Hopkinton/Hope Valley/Ashaway
Supported with funding from the State of Rhode Island, Rhode Island Energy, and others, the initiative seeks to leverage the unique character and histories of RI’s many commercial districts to increase economic activity and build community and quality of life for residents.
“We’re looking forward to coming together to create a supportive and inspirational network full of hope and grit and love for RI’s special places,” said Main Street RI Director and Grow Smart RI Deputy Director Jillian Finkle. “For decades, Main Street America’s framework has helped communities across the country thrive. As uncertainty grows at the federal level, investing in local places—and empowering the people who care about them to work together—has never been more important.”
In addition to the Learning Cohort, Main Street RI offers free monthly webinars and regular networking opportunities that are open to anyone in the state. For more information and to sign up for the monthly Main Street newsletter, visit growsmartri.org/main-street-ri/.
Above: images from our first workshop focused on the design of our Main Streets led by Lisa Thompson of Main Street America. Thank you to the Providence Department of Planning and Development for hosting us!