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<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;color:#00457A">Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#00457A">235 Promenade Street | Providence, RI 02908 | 401.222.4700 |</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#0070C0">
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#0066FF">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#0070C0">
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#00457A">| @RhodeIslandDEM</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT:
</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Mike Healey, 401-258-0787<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> Friday, September 17, 2021 </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><a href="mailto:Michael.Healey@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#0066FF">Michael.Healey@dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="color:#0066FF">
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:1.4pt;margin-right:23.8pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:28.95pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;text-indent:.05pt">
<b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.15pt">GOV. MCKEE
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.25pt">AND DEM ANNOUNCE
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.15pt">AVAILABILITY
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">OF $4
<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt">MILLION<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:1.4pt;margin-right:23.8pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:28.95pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;text-indent:.05pt">
<b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.15pt">IN
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.2pt">OUTDOOR RECREATION FUNDING
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">TO
<span style="letter-spacing:-.15pt">HELP </span><span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt">COMMUNITIES<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.15pt">BUILD
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.2pt">AND EXPAND
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.15pt">LOCAL
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.2pt">RECREATIONAL RESOURCES<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.2pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
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</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:271.55pt;width:289.1pt;height:163.5pt;z-index:251658752;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:left;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page'>
<v:imagedata src="cid:image004.jpg@01D7ABD2.01DCD310" o:title="" cropbottom="9945f" />
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="385" height="218" style="width:4.0104in;height:2.2708in" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D7ABD2.C29F2350" align="left" hspace="12" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_4"><![endif]><span style="color:#212427">PROVIDENCE
– Governor Dan McKee and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announce today that $4 million in outdoor recreation matching grants is available to help local municipalities and Native American tribes acquire, develop, or renovate outdoor recreational
facilities in their communities. The grant round is now open, with a deadline of Dec. 17, 2021. Funding provided through the
</span><a href="http://dem.ri.gov/greenclean/"><span style="color:#0066FF">2021 Beach, Clean Water and Green Bond</span></a><span style="color:#212427"> – which Rhode Island voters approved by a margin of almost 80 percent last March – is capitalizing the grants.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:8.2pt"><span style="color:#212427">Since the inception of DEM’s community recreation grant program in 1988, 541 grants have been awarded and more than $85 million invested in improvements in all 39 Rhode Island communities.
Recreation development grants require a 20 percent community match. Applicants can apply for either small grants for grant funding up to $100,000 or large grants for grant funding up to $400,000.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:8.2pt"><span style="color:#212427"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:8.2pt"><span style="color:#212427">“Access to green space and clean, functional recreation facilities improves health, promotes stronger social ties, and enhances neighborhood satisfaction and pride,” said Governor
McKee. “Our network of bikeways, open spaces, and other recreational assets help attract people and businesses to Rhode Island.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:8.2pt"><span style="color:#212427"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:8.2pt"><span style="color:#212427">Recreation acquisition grants require a 50 percent match and are capped at $400,000. Applicants are encouraged to review the grant instructions available at
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/plangrants"><span style="color:#0066FF">www.dem.ri.gov/plangrants</span></a><span style="color:#212427">. Scoring criteria is established by the
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/planning/scorp/index.php"><span style="color:#0066FF">State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP)</span></a><span style="color:#212427">.
</span>Well-planned, well-described projects in urban, distressed, and environmental justice areas will score particularly well. As part of a larger network of recreational opportunities in the state, municipal facilities play an important role in beautifying
communities, supporting public health, strengthening climate resilience, and promoting a cleaner environment.<span style="color:#212427"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:8.2pt"><span style="color:#212427"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:8.2pt">A virtual pre-application workshop is scheduled in October. Details below:<span style="color:#212427"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:10.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Topic: RI Outdoor Recreation Grant Round 2022<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Time: Oct. 20, 2021 10 AM<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Link:
</span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3947594847__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!flgg9LLLUpXYjHR60yJTlbIfEkDbfT5mREXAbiJOGfdZmo8603ecUbO6iBaIV3ZXmPsNpwgh$"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#0066FF">https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3947594847</span> [us02web.zoom.us]</a></span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Meeting ID: 394 759 4847 - Call in number: 1-929-205-6099<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:#212427">Electronic applications are encouraged and should be forwarded to Lisa McGreavy in DEM’s Division of Planning and Development at
</span><a href="mailto:lisa.mcgreavy@dem.ri.gov"><span style="color:#0066FF">lisa.mcgreavy@dem.ri.gov</span><span style="color:blue;text-decoration:none">
</span></a><span style="color:#212427">by 3 PM on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2021. Proposals and supporting materials also may be mailed to Ms. McGreavy’s attention at DEM, Division of Planning and Development, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908. Rhode Island
municipalities and recognized Native American tribes are eligible to apply.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<span style="color:#212427">DEM’s GreenSpace programs – which include Outdoor Recreation, Local Open Space, and Recreational Trail grants – fund land conservation, recreational land acquisition and development, and recreational trail development and improvements
statewide. </span>Rhode Island’s historic parks, bikeways, and green spaces provide opportunity for public enjoyment – in addition to improving the health of the<span style="letter-spacing:-.75pt">
</span>environment, strengthening the state’s climate resilience, and supporting the economy. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, outdoor recreation in Rhode Island generates $2.4 billion in consumer spending and supports 24,000 local jobs.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:.55pt"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:27.45pt">For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit
<a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/"><span style="color:#0066FF">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a>. Follow us on Facebook at
<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!flgg9LLLUpXYjHR60yJTlbIfEkDbfT5mREXAbiJOGfdZmo8603ecUbO6iBaIV3ZXmIKMgWZz$"><span style="color:#0066FF">www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM</span><span style="color:blue;text-decoration:none">
</span> [facebook.com]</a>or on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) for timely updates.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:27.45pt"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoCaption"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:windowtext;font-style:normal">Caption accompanying picture above:
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:windowtext">Joslin Spray Park in Providence benefited from a 2016 Outdoor Recreation Grant of $96,000 for four shade sails, landscaping, and play structures.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:27.45pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:10.45pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;text-indent:-.5pt">
<b>###<o:p></o:p></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">Michael J. Healey | Chief Public Affairs Officer</span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management</span><span style="color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">235 Promenade Street, Providence RI 02908</span><span style="color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">401-222-4700, X277-7273</span><span style="color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">Email: </span><a href="mailto:michael.healey@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">michael.healey@dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">Web: </span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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