Priorities for Pawtucket
Pawtucket has come a long way since we took office in 2011. On the brink of bankruptcy, the city faced unfunded pension obligations, junk bond status, and very limited economic opportunities.
Today, a dramatic upswing in our financial condition is evident. The city’s bond rating impacts the interest rates at which investors buy city bonds, providing crucial funding for major capital projects. So much so that Fitch Ratings, one of four national rating agencies, has upgraded the city from an A- to an A+, with a stable outlook. Meanwhile, Moody’s Investor Services has reaffirmed the city’s A3 issuer rating, reflecting confidence in Pawtucket’s financial health and long-term stability.
The forecast is brighter, an emergency fund has been restored, and more businesses are investing in the city, optimistic about its future.
Our administration is always thinking of ways to support, encourage and promote the small businesses in our community. They contribute so deeply to our quality of lives and livelihoods, providing jobs, products and services close to home.
Initiatives like Pawtucket Promotes, the ’52 in 52′ Program, grant and loan programs of Pawtucket Business Development Council, Community Development Block Grants, city-sponsored Restaurant Weeks and educational workshops are designed to help sustain and strengthen our business community, while helping to attract new businesses to the city.
Our partnerships with the Chamber of Commerce, the Pawtucket Foundation, and the Small Business Administration help us expand even further on these services.
Our students deserve the safest and most advanced learning environments that we can provide. We have made great strides, but there is much more to do to make generational improvements in our school districts. This is one of our highest priorities.
In cooperation with the Pawtucket School Committee, and with voter approval, we completely renovated Nathaniel Green and Potter Burns Elementary Schools, and built the brand-new Henry Winters Elementary School. With these renovations complete, our focus remains on completing the Baldwin Elementary project.
Pawtucket voters approved a $330 million bond to build a brand new, unified Pawtucket High School. Starting in March 2025, residents will see the project underway as we begin the early stages of the largest school construction development in Rhode Island history. A facility of this caliber is what our students need and deserve, and I know that this project will continue to push Pawtucket forward.
My administration has promoted an aggressive repaving plan to update road surfaces and traffic patterns to improve the quality of life of our residents.
Thanks to voter support on the bond referendum of 2018, the partnership of the City Council, and the hard work of the men and women of the Department of Public Works, the city has exceeded 70% of its repaving goal in 2022.
Knowing that these improvement, while very beneficial over time, and cause some short-term inconvenience. We thank you for your continued patience as the work continues and we get the job done.
Together, we have faced many challenges, but the health and safety of our residents remain a top priority. As we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, we have not lost sight of the need to promote vaccination and provide necessary resources to protect against potential impacts of new variants.
We remain vigilant in addressing community safety. The reopening of Fire Station One on West Avenue marks a significant investment in emergency response services, ensuring faster response times and enhanced protection for our residents. We also continue to work closely with the Pawtucket Police Department to preempt violence on our streets and safeguard our schools and neighborhoods. By prioritizing these essential services, we are committed to making Pawtucket a safer and healthier place for all.
Our administration is advancing the largest economic development project in the city’s history. Tidewater Landing is a mixed-use riverfront development that will be anchored by a professional soccer and event stadium, along with over 400 housing units, commercial space, and riverfront facilities. It promises to restore Pawtucket to the active Rhode Island gateway that it once was. The stadium is set to open in May 2025 and will be home to Rhode Island FC, proudly anchored in Pawtucket. In their inaugural season, Rhode Island FC made it to the USL Championship Finals, bringing excitement and momentum to this transformative project.
In 2023, we opened the Pawtucket-Central Falls Commuter Rail Station on Barton Street in the Conant Thread District. This major state and federal investment was in the works for more than a decade and represented a huge advance for Pawtucket’s economy and infrastructure. The Commuter Rail Station provides direct access to Boston, further strengthening economic opportunities in the area. We are thrilled to have this new development!
We also broke ground on the Dexter Street Commons, a groundbreaking mixed-use development in the heart of Pawtucket’s Conant Thread neighborhood, near the Pawtucket-Central Falls Commuter Rail Station. Additionally, we broke ground on the Pawtucket-Central Falls Station passenger amenity building, which is set to open in 2026, further enhancing the commuter experience and solidifying Pawtucket as a key hub for transit-oriented development.
