Council rejects $350,000 resiliency-hub grant application after split vote

The Woonsocket City Council on Feb. 3 considered a resolution (25-R-19) authorizing the planning department to submit an application for up to $350,000 from Environmental Justice of New England to create a resiliency hub. After extended debate, the measure failed on a 4–3 roll call.

Proponents — including Councilwoman Gonzales, Councilwoman Fox and Councilwoman Harmon — described a resiliency hub as a local resource center for environmental education, public-health outreach, workforce and small-business support targeted at underserved neighborhoods. Director Pagliarini said the grant includes a 25 percent advance and would fund space, programming and partnerships. Councilwoman Fox said the hub could co-locate with existing community services and the city’s new business-development hub to provide cross-cutting resources.

Opponents argued the city’s administration is already managing multiple projects and raised concerns about the city’s capacity to administer new grant programs and to manage related reporting and financial tracking. Councilman Kenoyer and Councilman Dubois cited unfinished audits and possible future large capital needs — including wastewater treatment investments and potential school projects — as reasons to decline taking on additional grant programs now.

The roll call produced four votes against and three in favor; the resolution was defeated. Supporters said they will continue to pursue external partnerships and that parts of the hub concept may be achievable through community partners absent city administration as lead.

Ending: The council did not authorize the grant application at this time; proponents signaled they may pursue nonmunicipal partners to advance parts of the hub concept.