Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee accepts $750,000 state commerce grant for downtown lighting upgrades
Summary
The committee approved accepting a $750,000 Rhode Island Commerce grant to replace or repair decorative downtown streetlight fixtures and poles; staff said the state will provide an additional $250,000 in a later round.
The Providence City Committee on Finance voted to accept a $750,000 grant from the Rhode Island Commerce Department to repair and replace decorative streetlight fixtures in downtown and adjacent commercial areas.
Keith, the city presenter on the item, told the committee the state intends to allocate $1 million through its grant cycle; the first tranche to the city is $750,000. Staff said the funds will target decorative fixtures whose bases are corroded or whose mounting no longer meets load requirements; in many locations the poles support catenary lighting that spans streets and was not originally engineered for current loads.
The project scope includes full replacements where bases are cracked or repair is not feasible, as well as modifications and repairs to existing fixtures. Staff said the state commerce grant funds are routed through the city and that the state will furnish documentation for how the money is spent.
Councilors asked who initiated the proposal and whether neighborhood groups or business associations had sought the funding; staff said the application reflected both city and local interests and that similar Main Street and Wayland Square projects had been pursued previously. The presenter also said an additional $250,000 may follow in the next grant round.
The committee approved the acceptance of the grant (motion moved by Councilor Taylor; seconded by Councilor Sanchez).
