Flooding in the Wood-Pawcatuck watershed on March 30, 2010, Beaver River in Decoppett Estate, Richmond, RI. Photo from USDA, https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/conservation-by-state/rhode-island/wood-pawcatuck-watershed-planning-project
Did you know how much the town of Richmond relies on federal funding for capital improvements? Over the last couple years, the town of Richmond has benefited directly from over $4 million in grants. For small towns like Richmond, it is important to get financial support at the federal level to help with larger public projects. This helps the town and schools maintain their infrastructure, and provides critical support to residents. This funding is needed to cover our community's needs, including necessary facility improvements, repairing storm damage, and augment local health care. And it's funding that we can't cover using local and state taxes. Some examples of federal grants supporting the town of Richmond are:
$1.0M from FEMA for repairs to residents from flooding and damage from storms in the fall of 2023.
$578k in federal grants from USDA for the 4 Richmond Townhouse park
$150k from USDA for Richmond Police Station Renovations
$55k from USDA for the elevator in the Richmond Senior Center
$2M in grants to Wood River Health Services from Department of Health and Human Services
$165k from USDA for the new Richmond radio tower
$265k in support to Chariho schools in 2023-2024, and $399k in 2024-2025
Beyond just government and health care in Richmond, the Federal government has obligated $480.5M this fiscal year to support individuals, businesses, and government functions in southern Rhode Island. These are taxes that you’ve already paid in 2024 being used to support your neighbors and your communities.
$220M in Social Security support to residents
$20.1M in VA support to residents
$171k in SBA grants for local businesses
$971k in Railroad Retirement Board benefits
$33.9M of NSF grants to URI research on oceanography, marine geology, and improving engineering innovation
$74.1k of FCC funding for internet for schools
$18.6M from Department of Transportation to support RI DOT
$75k from US Fish and Wildlife Service for RI DEM
$500k from National Park Service for the Tomaquag Indian Memorial Museum
$500k from Bureau of Ocean Management for URI ocean energy management studies
$31.7M from Bureau of Indian Affairs to support Narragansett Tribe public services
$2.8M from Housing and Urban Development to support Westerly, South Kingston, and Narragansett Housing Authorities
$3.7M from Department of Housing and Urban Development to local housing development companies
$18.4M from Department of Health and Human Services for URI, Wood River Health, and Thundermist Health Center
$10.9M from Department of Education for URI, principally for Pell Grants
$1.2M from Department of Defense in research funding for URI examining warhead disposal and other Army research office efforts
$109.8M from National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in oceanographic research and fishing industry research for URI
$3.9M from National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to the URI Research Foundation
$1.2M from USDA Rural Housing Service for elderly housing in Peacedale
$242k from USDA Rural Business Cooperative Service for rural business development
$364k from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to individuals in southern Rhode Island for conservation efforts
$776k from USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture
-- Chris Kona