Commerce to Begin Accepting Applications for Site Readiness Program
Raimondo Administration Program will provide funding for municipal technical assistance and site-specific planning and improvements
(PROVIDENCE, RI) – At the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank Summit, Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor announced that applications for the Commerce Corporation’s new Site Readiness program will be available October 1. Created in the Governor’s FY2020 budget and passed by the General Assembly, the program partners Commerce with municipalities and/or developers to fund municipal technical assistance and site-specific planning and improvements.
“The Site Readiness program will help expand the portfolio of sites ready for development in Rhode Island,” said Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor.
Funding will be available in two categories: site specific improvements and municipal assistance. Applications will be available at www.commerceri.com and will be accepted through November 15, 2019 for a first round of grants.
Site Specific Improvements
Funding is available to support the planned or future development of specific sites. The activities we will consider funding include:
- Site specific planning and pre-development activities including property surveys, master planning, engineering surveys, or environmental studies.
- Site specific project improvements including activities that will support planned or future build out of significant sites including infrastructure improvements, land assembly activities, site clearing or demolition, and building improvements.
To be considered for site specific funding, urban projects should consist of a minimum of 2 acres or 100,000 square feet of existing or planned building space and suburban or rural projects should be a minimum of 10 acres.
Municipal Assistance
Funding through the program is also available to cities and towns to assist in the development of strategies and plans that spur development and growth in support of the municipality’s development goals. The activities could include:
- LEAN Consultation to streamline current land-use development and permitting processes.
- Training/Education for planning/zoning board members as well as Building Officials and Inspectors.
- Assistance with writing zoning ordinances, updating comprehensive plan.
- Providing strategic planning effort support (including matching funds or support for federal grants) or marketing support that will lead to the development or redevelopment of significant sites in a municipality.