What does The Providence Plan do? The Providence Plan (ProvPlan) operates projects designed to revitalize the City of Providence. We also serve as an incubator for new citywide initiatives. Our current focus areas include: education, public safety, workforce development, land-use policy, health, early childhood, and economic development. ProvPlan also works on similar issues at the statewide level.
Is ProvPlan part of City or State government? No. ProvPlan is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. We are governed by a Board of Directors.
How is ProvPlan funded? ProvPlan is funded primarily through grants and contracts. ProvPlan also receives annual support from the City and State for core support and special projects. About 50% of our funding comes through Federal grants, 30% from City and State grants and contracts, and 20% from national and local foundations.
Where can I find information about Providence and its neighborhoods? Start at Neighborhood Profiles, a collection of data and maps for each of the city’s 25 neighborhoods. If you are looking for specific information about a particular street or property, use “The Mapper” - our Internet Map Server that allows you to create customized maps.
Do you have information for other cities and towns? Yes, but not to the same degree of detail as Providence. Most of our non-Providence data is project-related and not served from our web site. One exception is the EDC Statewide Map Server for Economic Development, an IMS application we built for RIEDC.
What if I can’t find the information that I am looking for? To inquire about data or maps not available on our Web site, e-mail or call Jim Lucht, Director of Information and Technology, at 401.455.8880 x215. We may be able to help you find the information you are seeking or refer you to someone who can help.
Are there restrictions on using information from the site? No. This information is available to use free of charge. Please cite BOTH the original source of the data and the ProvPlan Web site when using information for grant proposals, reports, or presentations. All maps, tables, and charts in the Neighborhood Profiles and Statewide Data specify the original data source.
Does ProvPlan have grant funds available? Not usually. Programs like New Roots Providence, Ready to Learn Providence and the Local Learning Partnership often sponsor mini-grant competitions for a targeted audience. ProvPlan frequently works in collaboration with State agencies and community-based organizations to explore funding opportunities or strategic partnerships that result in funding.
What is the difference between ProvPlan and the City’s Department of Planning and Development? ProvPlan is a nonprofit organization, while the City Department of Planning and Development (DPD) is an agency of City government. DPD is responsible for economic, housing, and land-use issues in the City, the management of public-improvement projects, real estate marketing, and the management of federal grant programs. ProvPlan and DPD share data and collaborate frequently, but we are separate entities.
Does ProvPlan provide assistance to homeowners or operate the Providence Plan Housing Corporation? ProvPlan does not provide any direct assistance to homeowners, and the Providence Plan Housing Corporation no longer exists. For questions about homeownership and homebuyer assistance programs, contact the Providence Neighborhood Housing Corporation (401.351.4430) or Rhode Island Housing (401.751.5566).
