Pawtucket Foundation names four honorees, recaps year of new beginnings

After a lively networking reception, the meeting got underway with co-chairman of the Pawtucket Foundation, Kevin Tracy, welcoming a crowd of business and community leaders to the 16th Annual Meeting. Pawtucket mayor, Donald Grebien offered opening remarks expressing the value of the City of Pawtucket's collaboration with the Pawtucket Foundation in driving economic development in the City.

"We know that economic development opportunities and benefits don't stop at the City line," said Mr. Tracy, as he introduced Central Falls Mayor James Diossa. Mayor Diossa expressed his support of the Pawtucket Foundation's efforts as a positive impact for Central Falls as well as Pawtucket. Both mayors echoed the significance of the Pawtucket/Central Falls Station to better serve transportation needs of their communities and stimulate economic growth.

The Pawtucket Foundation's Executive Director, Jan Brodie, remarked on her first year's experience in the role saying, "I'm thankful to a city that has treated me with such warmth and respect, and to the Foundation's Board that has been so supportive over the past year." Ms. Brodie reviewed accomplishments from the year and outlined goals for the future.

"I look forward to working closely with the City on the downtown and riverfront projects, " Ms. Brodie stated, "and on advancing the Pawtucket/Central Falls Transit Oriented Development (TOD) District in readiness for the station's completion."

 

Kevin Tracy and Dan Sullivan, Jr., Pawtucket Foundation co-chairs, announced this year's Annual Award Celebration honorees, lauding their efforts and commitment as key members of the Pawtucket community. Honorees will be recognized at the the Awards Celebration, to be held on Wednesday, April 26th, 2017 at the Pawtucket Armory Arts Center. Raffle tickets to win either a Collette Shades of Ireland or Iceland's Magical Northern Lights tour are now available, priced at $50 per ticket, and winner need not be present at Awards Celebration to win. Awards Celebration sponsorships are available. The 2017 honorees are as follows:

 

 

The Heritage Award recognizes an outstanding long-term commitment to the City of Pawtucket and its residents. Dennis Kelly and Patrick Murray have demonstrated Bristol County Savings Bank's long-term commitment of excellent service and investing in Pawtucket for many years.

The Special Distinction Award honors outstanding contributions in a particular aspect of the community. Lori Urso, executive director of Slater Mill, has been a true leader in helping to revitalize downtown Pawtucket. Her leadership, creativity and stimulating programming showcase the history and uniqueness of this Pawtucket landmark.

The Person of the Year Award recognizes a person who significantly contributed to enhancing the quality of economic and community life in Pawtucket. While Michael Baker may be new to Pawtucket, he has demonstrated that he's there for the long haul. He has made a major investment in downtown Pawtucket, bringing new jobs to the city, and he inspires his team at Pet Food Experts to be more involved.

Executive Director Jan Brodie spoke on the organization's work over the last year: placemaking initiatives with food trucks and outdoor fitness, enhancing the character of downtown with grow boxes, painting the municipal parking lot wall and beautifying downtown with plantings. She highlighted movement on development of the site at 45 Division Street, the Tidewater site and emphasized the success and continued progress on the commuter rail station and the impact that Transit Oriented Development (TOD) District will have on the area.

In the co-chairs' report, Daniel Sullivan, Jr. highlighted the funding of a Pawtucket bus hub to coordinate with the new commuter rail station to create a full-service transportation hub around the Conant Mill site. "These large-scale projects, with their state and federal funding, have brought new optimism and a sense of having reached a tipping point in the city's economic revitalization," he stated. "The Pawtucket Foundation is working hard to leverage this investment and to make the station connected to the downtown attractive to development once completed."

Amongst initiatives for the future, the Pawtucket Foundation is actively involved in working for a percent-for-the-arts to help promote the city as an arts center, advancing a "clean and safe" business improvement district for downtown, and continuing to move forward the train station's transit oriented development and continued advancement on the riverfront and Tidewater sites.

 

Ms. Brodie wrapped up her report with the reveal of the Pawtucket Foundation's new website (www.pawtucketfoundation.org), designed by Brave River Solutions as an updated, mobile-responsive website to more easily access updates on these initiatives. She closed emphasizing the importance of continued support through financial support, partnerships and volunteerism.

 

Positioning itself to best serve the organization and the community, the Pawtucket Foundation continues to make positive changes to its board structure. Last year, the organization added an Advisory Board and this year Esselton McNulty, Anthony Pires and Louis Yip step onto that board.

 

The Pawtucket Foundation represents the business and not-for-profit sector as an advocate and catalyst for downtown, riverfront and transportation gateway enhancements within the City of Pawtucket. As civic entrepreneurs, the Pawtucket Foundation fosters a vision of the community's future by mobilizing and coordinating research, information, talent and resources to positively impact the City. www.pawtucketfoundation.org