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Rhode Island's many Main Streets, downtowns and neighborhood centers represent an incredible opportunity for growing small businesses, developing transit-oriented housing, and building community. The historic buildings and unique stories of these places are part of what makes Rhode Island so special, and there are so many of us who love them!

For over 40 years, Main Street America has been supporting communities to revitalize, activate and promote their commercial districts as well-functioning places. Grow Smart RI is excited to bring leaders from Main Street America and related programs in neighboring states to talk to us about the impact of their work and how we might apply this approach here in Rhode Island.

Featured Speakers:

• Kathy LaPlante, Senior Director of Coordinating Programs, Main Street America
• Delilah Poupore, Executive Director, Heart of Biddeford (Maine)
• Ed Gaskin, Executive Director, Greater Grove Hall Main Streets (Boston)
• Michelle McCabe, Executive Director, Connecticut Main Street Center
• Gary Holloway, Downtown Program Coordinator, State of Vermont

Event Schedule:

8:30 AM Breakfast and Networking

9:00 AM Welcome & Local Impact Presentation (Heart of Biddeford, ME)

9:45 AM Main Street America & Grow Smart RI's proposed Main Street RI program

10:30 AM Guest presentations

• Statewide economic impact, Connecticut Main Street Center
• Placemaking and resiliency, Vermont Downtown Program
• Urban revitalization, Greater Grove Hall Main Streets (Boston)

12:00 PM Lunch (Optional lunch tickets $25)

1:00 PM The Four Points Approach to place-based economic development and revitalization (Main Street America with all guest speakers)

3:00 PM Urban Revitatlization in a Boston Neighborhood

3:30 PM The Guild Beer Hall opens for networking (on your own)

Meet Main Street America

Main Street America leads a movement committed to strengthening communities through preservation-based economic development in older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. Founded in 1980, they have helped over 2,000 communities across the country bring economic vitality back downtown, while celebrating their history and culture and bringing communities together. Their efforts have resulted in over $101 billion in reinvestment.

Recognize that speaker from June's Grow Smart RI awards event?

Ed McMahon is the former chair of the Main Street America Board of Directors.

Revisit his RI presentation HERE!

Meanwhile, in October:

Healthy Havoc: An Evening with Filmmaker Andy Boenau

October 26, 2023 - 5:00 - 7:00 PM

William Hall Library Auditorium - Cranston

Our environment affects our behavior and our behavior affects our physical and mental health.

Urbanist storyteller and provocative filmmaker Andy Boenau has described the state of health in America as a crisis, and he believes that our infrastructure, especially around transportation, is one of the major culprits.

While in the process of producing a full-length documentary film on the topic (more info on that HERE) he compiled a shorter video to make his case.

Come join Grow Smart RI and the RI Department of Health to meet Andy and be one of the first to see the video. We'll hear from local experts about what's already being done to improve the built environment in Rhode Island to help us live healthier lives, as well as the opportunities and challenges we are facing in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Everyone will be invited to join the conversation - what do you see as our biggest obstacles to living more active and social lives? What can we do to overcome them? Be prepared for Andy to challenge us to think about what real actions we can take to start making change!

Thank you to our local panelists:

• Nancy Sutton, Chief, Center for Chronic Care & Disease Management at Rhode Island Department of Health
• Samantha Sandland, LICSW, NASM-CPT, Founder, Psychotherapist, and Personal Trainer, Champs Psychological Services

Registration is free but registration is required; light refreshments will be provided.

Please note: the William Hall Library Auditorium has its own entrance separate from the main part of the library. Please follow the signs in the rear/side of the building.

Presented in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Health.

Grow Smart RI is proud to be collaborating with AARP all year long to advance smart growth in Rhode Island

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