Providence, RI – Tonight, Majority Leader Pedro J. Espinal (Ward 10) introduced an ordinance that would establish a certified local vendor program and apply a 5% evaluative preference in bid scoring to support Providence-based businesses. By giving local businesses a leg up in the bidding process, sponsors say the ordinance would both attract new businesses and help sustain established ones.
“We hear ‘buy local’ a lot, but hiring local is just as important,” said Majority Leader Espinal. “This ordinance is a great way for the city to support the entrepreneurs and businesses that not only make Providence their home, but help make Providence our home as well.”
The ordinance was referred to the Committee on Ordinances.
Tonight, councilors passed the Green Revolving Fund ordinance for the first time. The ordinance advances the City’s commitment to reducing energy use, lowering emissions, and reinvesting savings from municipal energy improvements back into future sustainability projects.
Buildings are among the largest drivers of energy demand and emissions nationwide: the building sector uses roughly 75% of the electricity generated in the United States, and homes and businesses accounted for 31% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. With energy bills skyrocketing, municipal buildings are modeling the decarbonization actions needed to reduce building emissions and eventually reach net zero. While the savings from these efforts will be reinvested into the fund, the whole city will benefit from the City’s commitment to lower energy use, alternative energy sources, and reduced emissions. The ordinance requires a second vote to become law.
Councilors also voted for the first time on an ordinance that would adopt the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Budget for Program Year 2026-27, and authorize the City to submit its annual CDBG, HOME Investment Partnerships Program, Emergency Solutions Grants Program (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) grant applications to the U.S. Department of Housing and Human Services. The total CDBG allocation of $5,450,000 will be used for grants for housing, community centers, facility improvements, economic development, neighborhood projects, and more. The ordinance requires a second vote to become law.
Councilors presented several resolutions, including a resolution opposing Brown University’s planned demolitions on Brook Street as well as a resolution requesting that Providence Public School District report to the Ways and Means Committee on how it is addressing the growing crisis of student homelessness in Providence schools. The Brook Street resolution was referred to the Department of Public Works. The student homelessness crisis resolution was passed on the floor.
