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<p align="center" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">DEM AWARDS $6.8 MILLION IN GRANTS TO
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">IMPROVE WATER QUALITY, HELP STRENGTHEN CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND REDUCE FLOODING
</span></b><b><u><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">PROVIDENCE - The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) today announced the award of $6.8 million in matching grants for 33 projects, spread across the state, to mitigate
water pollution from stormwater and nonpoint sources, reduce flooding, and strengthen Rhode Island’s climate resilience.
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">The grants are made possible through funding from the Narragansett Bay and Watershed Restoration Bond Fund and the federal Clean Water Act Section 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution program.
<span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">“Climate change is real, and is poised to uniquely affect Rhode Island as the Ocean State,” Governor Gina M. Raimondo said. “We need to take action to safeguard our natural resources
and our communities. These grants help prepare cities and towns to deal with our changing climate, while creating jobs for Rhode Islanders in engineering, construction and landscaping.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">“We’re excited that these grants will enable us to work with municipalities and other partners to advance a cleaner, more resilient Rhode Island,” said DEM Director Janet Coit. “This
work is vitally important given a changing climate that will continue to deliver increased annual rainfall and more intense storms to our region. Continuing to invest in water quality improvement efforts is critical. It strengthens our resilience, supports
our quality of life, and helps attract people and businesses to locate here. Congratulations to all grant recipients. We look forward to celebrating the success of these projects.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">$3.78 million was awarded for 18 projects to improve stormwater management and abate stormwater pollution. Included are projects to retrofit existing infrastructure, including
those that use </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">green infrastructure techniques such as grassed swales, bioretention areas, pavement removal and infiltration to allow natural processes to remove pollutants before they reach waterways.
Stormwater grants will also help six communities acquire trucks and equipment needed to improve maintenance of stormwater infrastructure.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">$2.69 million was awarded for 11 flood mitigation and prevention projects to<span style="color:black"> reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flooding in coastal or inland areas and
enhance natural ecosystem functions. The grants </span>support solutions to flooding problems using environmentally-beneficial techniques; for example, projects that resolve road and property flooding through culvert reconstruction will result in improved
stream passage and habitat of fish and wildlife. Projects in Portsmouth and Middletown will target actions that abate road flooding while also restoring and better protecting valuable coastal habitats including salt marsh.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">“These grants will help protect our state’s infrastructure and critical natural resources,” said Shaun O’Rourke, director of Stormwater and Resiliency at Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank.
“The projects emphasize the importance of collaboration, from municipalities to community organizations, in better preparing Rhode Island for a new climate reality.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">$321,320 in federal nonpoint source grants was awarded for
<span style="color:black">four projects that address indirect sources of pollution and improve water quality/aquatic habitat. Included are
</span>three riparian restoration and stormwater management improvement projects, and one cesspool replacement project. The funding is made available through a grant to DEM from the US Environmental Protection Agency.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Stormwater pollution abatement grant recipients include:
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:105%"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"> Aquidneck Island Planning Commission - $300,000
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Town of Coventry - $200,000
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Town of Cumberland - $197,500<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">City of East Providence - $55,000<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:2.15pt;margin-bottom:.25pt;margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in;line-height:100%">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Farm Fresh RI - $167,500<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Town of Jamestown - $265,000<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Town of Middletown - $36,600<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Narragansett Bay Commission - $400,000<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:2.15pt;margin-bottom:.25pt;margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in;line-height:100%">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">City of Newport - $110,000<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:2.15pt;margin-bottom:.25pt;margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in;line-height:100%">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Town of North Kingstown - $87,500<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">City of Pawtucket - $575,000<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">City of Providence - $418,000 (2 projects)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Town of South Kingstown - $594,300 (2 projects)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">City of Warwick - $244,500 (2 projects)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council - $133,900<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:105%"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:105%"><a name="_Hlk497743912"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Flood prevention and mitigation grant recipients include:
<o:p></o:p></span></a></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk497743912"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:105%"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"> Bonnet Shores Fire District - $200,000<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:2.15pt;margin-bottom:.25pt;margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in;line-height:100%">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Town of Bristol - $124,400<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:2.15pt;margin-bottom:.25pt;margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in;line-height:100%">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Town of Burrillville - $125,000<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:2.15pt;margin-bottom:.25pt;margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in;line-height:100%">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">City of East Providence - $544,025<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:2.15pt;margin-bottom:.25pt;margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in;line-height:100%">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Town of Hopkinton - $91,575<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">City of Newport - $425,000<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Town of North Providence - $249,356<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Town of Portsmouth - $433,200<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">The Nature Conservancy - $272,000<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Town of Warren - $175,200<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Town of West Warwick - $54,750<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:2.15pt;margin-bottom:.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:100%">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:2.15pt;margin-bottom:.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:100%">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Non-point source pollution abatement grant recipients include:
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:2.15pt;margin-bottom:.25pt;margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in;line-height:100%">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Aquidneck Island Planning Commission - $47,500<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:2.15pt;margin-bottom:.25pt;margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in;line-height:100%">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Town of Bristol - $75,000<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:2.15pt;margin-bottom:.25pt;margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in;line-height:100%">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Town of Portsmouth - $35,820<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Town of Warren - $163,000<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:2.15pt;margin-bottom:.25pt;margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.5pt;line-height:100%">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Visit DEM’s website for a full
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/water/finance/"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">description</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"> of each project.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Grant funding is made possible via the
</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">2014 Clean Water, Open Space, and Healthy Communities Bond ($3 million)</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">, the 2016 Green Economy Bond ($3 million), and the federal
Clean Water Act Section 319 program ($400,000). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> <span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.25pt;margin-left:.5pt;text-indent:-.5pt">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/index.htm"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">. Follow us on Facebook at
</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"> or on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) for timely
updates.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">-30-<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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