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Summit Registration Now Open

Act by April 19th for early-bird discount

A high impact event where powerful partnerships and collaborations are born

For more than 25 years, the extended Grow Smart RI family have been creative community and economic development problem-solvers.

We’ve been in the business of long-term systemic change that revitalizes neighborhoods and improves people’s lives while safeguarding RI’s environment, magic and soul. 

You know it, because you’ve been part of it.

Now, as we seek to accelerate a better, fairer, healthier “new normal”, it’s time to renew our networks and partnerships so that we can meet the moment and together tackle many of our state's key challenges and opportunities: 

• Increasing affordable housing & transportation choices
• Redesigning the built environment to support better public health
• Revitalizing our Main Streets and Downtowns
• Responding more urgently and effectively to climate change
• Better access to prosperity for all Rhode Islanders

See who attended in 2022.

Keynote Presentation

Gil Peñalosa will highlight and illustrate smart growth's clear clear benefits for public health, economic prosperity, quality of life, equity & justice

Keynote Panel Response

We've assembled a blockbuster panel of community leaders to tease out the most promising opportunities for improving public health and well-being through reform and design of Rhode Island's built environment.

The Workshops and Panels came from YOU

We received a record number of proposals this year ... 26 for 14 available slots! Thank you to everyone who submitted an entry.

Here's the line-up:

All panel details on the Summit webpage.

Morning Breakouts (11:00 AM - 12:15 PM)



• Implementing Residential and Mixed-Use Development in Rhode Island’s Growth Centers and Villages
• A Critical Reboot for RI's State Historic Tax Credit
• Models for Achieving the Transportation System We Need and Deserve
• Ocean Technology and Creating a Regional Power of Place 
• Making Places for Everyone - With Everyone
• What's Next for Newport's North End
• Community Capital and Rhode Island's Local Economy

Afternoon Breakouts (2:15 PM - 3:30 PM)

• Friends or Enemies? Turns out Housing and Land Conservation Can Get Along
• Rhode Island's Social Equity Platform: A New Tool for Compiling and Visualizing Social Equity Data
• Moving the Needle: Practical Lessons Steering Active Transportation Projects to Completion
• Cracking the Code: Strengthening our Neighborhoods through Participatory Planning 
• Roads Not (Yet) Taken: Opportunity in RI’s Commercial Corridors
• Regional Rail for Climate Action, Housing and Economic Growth
• Connecting the Dots for a Clean, Equitable, Energy Transition for a Healthy Rhode Island

Sponsors make the Summit possible

Thank you early sponsors (as of 3.23.24).

There's still time to be part of this year's Power of Place Summit

American Institute of Architects / RI Chapter • BETA Group, Inc. • Blackstone Valley Tourism Council • Brown University • City of Providence • DiPrete Engineering • Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston • Kite Architects • Moran Shipping Company • Morgan Stanley • Ørsted Americas • Providence Performing Arts Center • University of Rhode Island • Vision 3 Architects

Include your sponsorship HERE today.

Celebrating Smart Growth Leaders, Projects & Policies

Award Nominations Accepted through Friday, March 29, 2024

Each year, committed, creative and resourceful Rhode Islanders show us the way to tap our state’s full potential through projects, plans, and policies that play to Rhode Island’s strengths and generate enduring economic benefits — both statewide and in specific neighborhoods.

The 2024 Smart Growth Awards will be held during the Summit luncheon at the convention center on Friday, May 3, 2024.

Click HERE to nominate by March 29th

Online Registration Now Open

Early-bird rates valid through April 19th

Scenes from the 2022 Power of Place Summit

Grow Smart RI | www.GrowSmartRI.org