Capital Projects Fund

The State will deploy its $112.3 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund (CPF) by investing $81.7 million for the construction or renovation of multipurpose community facilities that enable work, education, and health monitoring, and $25 million in high-quality broadband infrastructure. The remaining $5.6 million, allocated by U.S. Treasury as administrative funds, will be used to support the management of CPF and its approved programs.

The CPF grant funds will enable the State to make investments in those areas that were impacted or made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. Treasury has approved the following two CPF projects:

Community Learning Centers Municipal Grant: This formula grant program is available to the state’s 39 municipalities to construct or renovate multipurpose community facilities accessible to all residents. Grants will be awarded based on the municipalities’ population and per capita income, with the goal of equitably distributing funding for necessary projects throughout the state while also prioritizing projects in low-income areas. This funding may only be used for capital costs; however, facilities funded under this program must commit to providing targeted programming to improve education and student performance, provide workforce training for better and higher-paying jobs, and help residents better monitor their physical and mental health for a minimum of five years.
Broadband Infrastructure: This grant program provides the State match for the minimum $108 million of federal funds allocated in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, for last mile connection between the state’s middle-mile fiber optic network and businesses and households. These last mile connections will provide high-speed, reliable internet to all Rhode Islanders but with particular emphasis on underserved areas in the state.

Funding for both programs must be expended and all related services operational by the end of 2026, per U.S. Treasury guidance.

Broadband Infrastructure Program Documents

Broadband Infrastructure Program Plan PDF file, less than 1

Broadband Infrastructure U.S. Treasury Press Release PDF file, less than 1

Community Learning Centers Municipal Grant Program Documents

Multipurpose Community Facilities Project Municipal Grant Fund Announcement PDF file, less than 1

Multipurpose Community Facilities Project Municipal Grant Fund Program Plan PDF file, less than 1

Multipurpose Community Facilities Project Municipal Grant Fund U.S. Treasury Press Release PDF file, less than 1