2026 RI Smart Growth Awards:
Call for Nominations

What is a Rhode Island Smart Growth Award?

The Smart Growth Awards recognize Rhode Island leaders, projects, plans or policies which exemplify smart growth principles and confront several of the most pressing challenges of our time: community revitalization, access to affordable housing and transportation choices, improving public health, confronting climate change, building a sense of place and human connection, and advancing social, racial, and economic justice.

Award winners will be celebrated at the Power of Place Summit on Friday, June 26, 2026 at the Rhode Island School of Design.

Nominations will be accepted until COB on Monday, April 20, 2026.

CATEGORIES:

- Smart Growth Leadership Award (individual or organization)
- Outstanding Smart Growth Project – urban, suburban or rural
- Public Policy and Planning Award

Winners will be selected by a committee made up of Grow Smart RI board and staff by May 1, 2026. Committee members will not participate in any discussions or voting related to any project in which they have a personal, professional, or financial interest.

AWARD CRITERIA

In order to be eligible, a smart growth project must be completed and have received a certificate of occupancy (even if a single phase of a larger project)

In order to be eligible, a public policy or plan must have been adopted by a Rhode Island municipality and/or by the State of Rhode Island.

Nominations in the category of Public Policy & Planning (e.g. comprehensive plans, downtown revitalization plans, special district plans and studies, code reform, etc.) will be evaluated according to their actual or potential advancement of these same smart growth principles. 

Any questions or concerns? Please contact Caroline Stevens cstevens@growsmartri.org

Sample descriptions can be found here -https://tinyurl.com/3tmepfcu.

Consider how the nomination reflects one or more of the 5 Principles of Smart Growth:

1) Build connected communities (locate the things people need close to where they live)
2) Make transportation accessible (Build a safe transportation system that connects people to jobs and other needs, whether they drive, take transit, walk, or bike.)
3) Build for everyone (Make sure people can afford to live in smart growth communities at all stages of life.)
4) Center community voice (Give people a say in what is built in their own neighborhoods.)
5) Invest in Main Streets (Focus development in existing communities with a strong sense of place.)

(S)he has the consent of the nominee to make this submission.

Grow Smart RI may use, reproduce, or make available for reproduction by others—for the purpose of publicizing the Awards program or the applicant project—the information on this form and any supporting materials (including images) provided.

There are no pending or impending concerns with this project’s financial condition, debt, equity, or public agency subsidy.