RIIB's Annual Seminar 2025: Navigating Change with Purpose

Join us on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at the Rhode Island Convention Center for a FREE half-day event centered on this year’s theme: Navigating Change with Purpose.

At a time when many communities face tough fiscal choices and shifting priorities, RIIB continues to deliver measurable progress, helping Rhode Island communities fund critical infrastructure projects, strengthen climate resilience, and unlock long-term value.

This year’s Seminar features breakout sessions featuring successful local projects and replicable strategies, a keynote address exploring how leaders in resilience are driving progress and decision-making in an evolving landscape, insights into upcoming funding opportunities and regional trends, networking opportunities with local leaders, partners, and decision-makers, and complimentary breakfast and lunch.

Community Spotlights (Choose one)10:25-11:15am

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Big Impact, Small Town: Infrastructure Wins in Rural Rhode Island

• Nancy E. Letendre, Esq., AICP, Planner, Town of Westerly
• Diane Williamson, Community Development Director, Town of Bristol
• Nicolle Ianuzzi, Vice President, BETA

Westerly’s “Resilient Riverfront Renewal” project is transforming Main Street into a greener, more resilient gateway by replacing aging gray stormwater systems with permeable paving, bioretention planters, and rain gardens. The effort reduces combined sewer overflows into the Pawcatuck River, while creating new green space, improving walkability, and supporting downtown revitalization. In Bristol, the Silver Creek Project restores coastal habitat and strengthens flood resilience, demonstrating how small towns can leverage infrastructure funding to deliver big community and environmental wins.

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Mid-Size Momentum: Resilience & Revitalization in Regional Hubs

• Karlo Berger, Resilience Planner, Planning, Building and Resilience, Town of Barrington
• Herbert A. Durfee, III, Director, Planning, Building, and Resilience, Town of Barrington
• Celicia Boyden, Project Manager, Fuss & O’Neil

Two Rhode Island communities are demonstrating how mid-size hubs can harness infrastructure investment to both strengthen climate resilience and enhance quality of life. In Barrington, the Walker Farm Recreation and Resilience Improvement Project has transformed a vulnerable waterfront site into the state’s first resilient floodable park, restoring marsh and shoreline habitats while creating accessible, multi-use recreational facilities. In Woonsocket, the Truman Drive Greenway Project is reshaping a downtown corridor by reducing pavement, improving stormwater management, and creating a linear park that connects Main Street businesses with the Blackstone River. Together, these projects highlight how thoughtful design, strong partnerships, and community engagement can deliver resilience and revitalization hand in hand.

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Scaling Innovation: Big-City Infrastructure Solutions

• Dean Pimental, Senior Planner, City of Warwick
• Mayor Bob DaSilva, City of East Providence
• Dan Borges, Director, DPW, City of East Providence
• John O’Brien, Policy & Partnership Specialist, The Nature Conservancy

Two coastal communities are showcasing how cities can lead on climate resilience at scale. In Warwick, the Oakland Beach Stormwater Project is reducing chronic flooding and improving water quality by integrating green stormwater infrastructure into a vulnerable waterfront neighborhood. In East Providence, the Crescent Beach Shoreline Restoration is transforming a stretch of Narragansett Bay with natural buffers, habitat restoration, and community access improvements. Together, these projects demonstrate how cities can combine infrastructure investment, ecological restoration, and strong partnerships to deliver long-term protection for residents and revitalized coastal assets.

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Forward-Looking Strategies (Choose one) 11:35am-12:25pm

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Planning and Policy Considerations to Bolster Resiliency

• Kristiane Huber, US Conservation Officer, The Pew Center
• Curt Spaulding, Senior Consultant, GZA Environmental

As Rhode Island faces increasing climate risks, communities are being challenged to make tough decisions about where and how to invest in resilience. Stronger infrastructure design and smarter funding strategies are essential to ensure that projects not only get built, but also deliver the greatest impact in reducing physical vulnerabilities. This conversation will explore how research and policy analysis can guide decision-making, how municipalities can weigh tradeoffs and sequence investments, and how limited resources can be directed toward the most urgent and high-value needs, laying the groundwork for a more adaptive and resilient Rhode Island.

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Back to Basics: Delivering Water and Sewer Solutions that Last

Narragansett Bay Commission

The Narragansett Bay Commission is advancing a $100 million Phase III Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) project — one of the state’s largest clean water investments. This session explores how innovative financing and engineering are helping protect Narragansett Bay, ensure compliance with federal mandates, and provide long-term public health and environmental benefits.

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The 2026 Funding Forecast: Opportunities You Should Be Tracking

• John-Paul A. Verducci, MPA, PMP, Associate Director of Management Services, RIDOT
• Matthew Schnackenberg, Managing Director, PFM
• Terry Gray, Director, RI Department of Environmental Management

From RIDOT’s expanded Municipal Road and Bridge Program to the new Resilient Rhody Infrastructure Fund and evolving private capital opportunities, Rhode Island municipalities face an unprecedented pipeline of funding options. State and financial leaders will outline what’s available now, what’s on the horizon through 2026, and how local leaders can best position their projects for investment.

Also check out other Workshops in Providence, Nonprofit events in Providence, Health & Wellness events in Providence.