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LATEST NEWS

AT A GLANCE

EVENTS:

Next Main Street Roundtable: Parking (Part 2) -- Can Parking Reform Save our Downtowns? Featuring Kevin Lowther and research from the RWU School of Law Housing Policy Lab. THIS THURSDAY February 12, 12pm. REGISTER

MEDIA AND COMMENTARY:

We rode the bus and had coffee with Senator Whitehouse. Learn More and follow along with #RhodiesInTransit to see who else has come on board.

Main Street: Power of Place Podcast launches season 2 with a visit to Forget Me Not Fables in Centredale, RI. LISTEN.


SPECIAL:

Our inaugural RI Main Street Learning Cohort is officially launched, having successfully completed our first day-long workshop to our group comprised of 11 different communities across RI. LEARN MORE

PARTNER NEWS AND PROGRAMS:

We're excited to be collaborating with several other mission aligned organizations here in Rhode Island. Be sure to catch all that they're up to at the bottom of this Newsletter.

EVENTS

MAIN STREET ROUNDTABLE THIS THURSDAY --

Parking (Part 2):

Can Parking Reform Save Our Downtowns?

February 12, 2026

12-1PM over Zoom (FREE)

Featuring: Kevin Lowther, and research from the RWU School of Law Housing Policy Lab

Parking is an issue of great interest for Main Street districts, so we’re building on our earlier conversation about Parking Studies to see what the research actually says about parking and what we can do to better manage it.

Last fall, the Roger Williams University School of Law launched a Housing Policy Lab, and parking was one area they explored. Kevin Lowther, one of its inaugural students, will share their findings about parking and ideas about possible reforms, especially as they pertain to commercial district activity and the cultivation of new and successful small businesses.

MEDIA AND COMMENTARY

It’s not every day you get to take your U.S. Senator for coffee on the bus.

We rode the #33 bus in early December from Kennedy Plaza with Senator Whitehouse to talk transit, housing, main street and climate—and why 2026 must be the year Rhode Island restores service and begins implementing our state’s comprehensive, data-driven Vision and Master plan for a transit system that gets more Rhode Islanders where they need to go, safely, affordably, and with dignity.

Check out Rhodies in Transit to see who's on board and follow #RhodiesInTransit

NEW SEASON!

MAIN STREET: A Power of Place Podcast

Our Main Street: A Power of Place Podcast, is back with a new season! In episode 1 we travel to Forget Me Not Fables, the new bookstore in Centredale, RI. Host and Producer Evelyn McKenney chatted with owner Alex DiGregorio about opening a brick & mortar, the importance of books, challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship, and more.

New episodes drop every other Friday. Listen on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify today!

SPECIAL

Our Main Street Learning Cohort

is Off and Running!

Celebrating the completion of our first Workshop

Led by Main Street America's Lisa Thompson, our first workshop focused on improving the design of our Main Streets. Thank you to the Providence Department of Planning and Development for hosting our group -- comprised of eleven communities across Rhode Island!

Are You Signed up for Our Main Street News? If not, you're missing out. Read our recent edition of our monthly Main Street RI News and sign up for more!

PARTNER NEWS + PROGRAMS

EVENTS:

Providence Preservation Society Annual Meeting: RESCHEDULED for February 24, 4-6pm. Gospel Tabernacle Outreach Ministries, 145 Oakland Avenue, Providence. REGISTER.

2026 RI League of Cities and Town Annual Convention: Thursday, March 19. Rhode Island's premier event for municipal officials and other government leaders focused on tackling today's most pressing policy challenges. Warwick, RI. REGISTER.

WEBINAR:

Demolition Delay Training: TOMORROW, Wednesday, February 11th,12-2pm

This webinar will feature an overview of demolition delay ordinances, including how they work, their key components such as delay periods and review processes, alternatives to demolition and more. FREE. LIMITED SPACE. LEARN MORE AND REGISTER.

WHAT WE'RE READING:

Providence Preservation Society's new comprehensive and interactive digital Guide to Urban Renewal in Providence

It's not that Radical, by Mikaela Loach. Focus of Climate Action RI's Winter Book Club: Sunday, March 22 @5:30pm. Riff Raff Bar and Bookstore, 60 Valley St. Providence. REGISTER.

Making Democracy Fun: How Game Design Can Empower Citizens and Transform Politics by Josh A. Lerner. Focus of Local Return's Book Club discussion on March 24, @6pm. Location TBD. REGISTER.

OPPORTUNITIES:

RIDOH - Rhody Streets Transformation Project Grant

The Rhode Island Department of Health’s (RIDOH) Healthy Eating and Active Living Program (HEAL) invites applications from eligible organizations and agencies to apply for a Short-Term Funding Opportunity to implement a Rhode Island Streets Transformation Project (RISTP) that showcases the benefits of community design to promote physical activity and active transportation for Rhode Islanders of all ages. RIDOH will issue awards up to $4,950 each.

Applications Due: February 15, 2026 @5pm

2026 AARP Community Challenge Grant

AARP Rhode Island invites local eligible organizations and governments across the state to apply for the 2026 AARP Community Challenge grant program, now through March 4, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). The grants fund quick-action projects that help communities become more livable in the long-term by improving public spaces, transportation, housing, digital connections, and more. All projects must be completed by December 15, 2026.

APPLICATION DUE: March 4, 2026 @5pm

Grant for Community Climate Resilience

The Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI) is now accepting applications for grants to help communities accelerate their climate resilience plans and projects. Awards include funding, as well as training and technical support. Ranging from $75,000-$115,000 per award, funds can be used over a twelve-month period to advance activities ranging from risk assessments and community engagement to project prioritization and implementation.  

APPLICATION DUE: March 12, 2026

2026 Certified Local Government Grants

The 2026 Certified Local Government Grant period is now open! The Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission administers a Certified Local Government (CLG) Grant Program for municipal historical preservation activities in RI's 19 communities with local historic district commissions.  

APPLICATION DUE: March 13, 2026

Have something to share for our next monthly edition? If so, email Caroline Stevens.

RHODY LOVE NOTES:

a collective mapping project that builds community around beloved places and spaces hidden across Rhode Island.

a Rhody Love Note for you . . .

TO: The Three Kwanzan Cherry Trees by the North Kingstown Town Beach

FROM: Bjorn Wellenius

Three Kwanzan cherry trees by the North Kingstown town beach. A four-season place of beauty and quiet. Spectacular double pink blooms in spring, comforting shade in summer, gentle goodbyes in the fall, peaceful contrast of bare branches against snow in winter, always the bay in the background. I go often there, usually with a bagel and latte from Jitters and the Providence Journal, sit on a picnic table when weather permits, or stay in the car. I love it.


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