David Salvatore | Executive director, The Providence Foundation
1. What are your goals as executive director of The Providence Foundation, and why are you focusing on these areas? By effectively communicating The Providence Foundation’s mission to create a strong, vibrant and prosperous downtown and advancing bold and visionary initiatives, we will continue playing a leadership role in shaping investment and growth in downtown Providence.
Read MoreFormer Providence City Council president David Salvatore has his first board meeting today as the executive director of The Providence Foundation, the 50-year-old nonprofit that advocates for a prosperous downtown.
With downtown Providence gearing up for another major transformation — including revamping Kennedy Plaza and a sudden shift in the commercial real estate market — I asked Salvatore to answer a few questions about his vision for the Foundation and the role he wants to play in shaping the discussion.
Read MoreBack in 2017 when Indian tech support company Infosys set up shop in Rhode Island, offices and office workers were a key pillar of Providence's downtown renaissance.
Seven years and one pandemic later, there are few signs of the 1,000-plus employees the company promised to hire in Infosys' sleek but somewhat sleepy downtown offices.
Read MoreThere's been an update on the Washington Bridge, yet we still don't know when it will be built, who will rebuild it, and how much it will cost. How did we get here? Joining Jim Hummel are Steph Machado of the Boston Globe and a RI PBS Weekly Contributor, former Providence City Council President David Salvatore, and Political Contributor, Rob Horowitz.
Read MoreSalvatore will take up the post following a tenure with the Rhode Island Association of Realtors, where he worked as the vice president of public affairs. Prior to this role, Salvatore served on the City Council for 14 years, representing Ward 14 and eventually becoming City Council president.
Salvatore has also volunteered with the boards of Providence-based nonprofits, including Sojourner House and the United Way of Rhode Island Inc.
Read MoreThe Providence Foundation announced Tuesday that former Providence City Council President David Salvatore will be its new executive director.
“I am honored to be named the next executive director of The Providence Foundation,” Salvatore said in a press release. “This role allows me to fully focus on our dynamic capital city —a place I call home, love dearly and have always been passionate about.”
The executive director before Salvatore was Cliff Wood, who served from 2017 until the end of 2023. A search for Wood’s successor started in January 2024 with a job description being posted, according to a spokesperson for the Foundation.
Read MoreThe Bartholomewtown Podcast (RIpodcast.com)
Providence Foundation Executive Director Cliff Wood joins Bill to discuss recent news surrounding the planned public-private rehab of the Superman Building, what it means for downtown Providence, and how to achieve both a generative and equitable city.
Read MorePROVIDENCE – The Industrial Trust Co. Building, the tallest property in Providence which has remained empty for nine years despite numerous efforts by public officials to spur economic development, is now expected to undergo a massive historic renovation.
Gov. Daniel J. McKee, state officials and building owner High Rock Development LLC on Tuesday announced a $220 million project supported by $41 million in state and city financing that will revive the former office tower into apartments, office, retail and event space.
Read MoreThe Downtown Providence Parks Network is seeking a part-time Program Manager to coordinate and support programs in the downtown Providence parks, in partnership with The Providence Foundation, City of Providence, Providence Parks Department, I-195 Commission and users of these downtown park spaces.
Read MoreJessica David, who serves as a consultant for the Providence Foundation, told Providence Business News Thursday that local parks advocates are looking to launch a new 501c3 nonprofit by the end of the year, bring to life the original vision that the Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy was supposed to be.
David said the Providence Foundation – of which the parks conservancy was originally associated with – and the city convened a 16-person steering committee to discuss the concept of a downtown parks network. The group spent the past year looking over what the network’s vision would be and how to best activate the eight to 10 public spaces that exist in downtown, David said.
Read MoreThe Central Park Conservancy Institute for Urban Parks (Institute) is pleased to announce the seven urban park organizations selected for the 2022 Partnerships Lab cohort. These organizations, representing urban park programs from around New York City and the United States, will participate in the eight-month program to learn best practices, engage in peer-to-peer mentorship, and join workshops with Central Park Conservancy subject-matter experts.
Read MoreCliff Wood is CEO of the Providence Foundation. For fifty years, the Foundation has helped advance bold, visionary initiatives that shape the present and future of downtown as the dynamic hub of a vibrant and prosperous Providence. Hear about the amazing work the Providence Foundation is doing to steward the future of Downcity in this fascinating episode.
Read More“We’re short on housing. This is meeting an obvious market demand,” Wood said. “We know now there is a strong demand for a particular type of use. … It’s obviously an iconic building for the state. We encourage any reasonable plan to see it be redeveloped. It would be really significant for the downtown and the local economy. It’s a lost opportunity to have it empty. It’s not neutral for it to be empty. It’s a negative pull.”
Read MoreMayor Jorge O. Elorza, members of the city council, the Rhode Island Foundation, the Providence Foundation, and Crossroads Rhode Island will collaborate on a new mobile diversion program for Providence residents experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Through the new program, Crossroads will assist individuals living in places not meant for human habitation to either regain permanent housing or enter a shelter or transitional housing program.
Read MoreSometimes, it’s a lack of money that can derail a good idea. Other times, it’s a lack of political will — or a lack of support.
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation’s previous proposal to build a multi-hub system that would spread RIPTA buses throughout downtown Providence (rather than having a central hub like Kennedy Plaza) didn’t garner support from anyone not named Peter Alviti (the DOT director) or Joe Paolino (the former mayor and downtown real estate mogul).
Thankfully, there’s a new concept for public transit in downtown that seems to be quietly gaining momentum, appears to be affordable, and would address many of the existing concerns about Kennedy Plaza, including drug and safety issues.
Read MoreADVANCED PLANNING: Arnold “Buff” Chace Jr., managing principal of Cornish Associates LP, is co-chairman of a group called the Providence Resilience Partnership, which is looking at how to better understand and prepare the city for flood risk and secure federal funding for its priorities.
Read MoreWhen people come back to downtown Providence, they need to find it safe, active and inviting. Here are some ways business and nonprofit leaders can help make the vision a reality through their own staffs and operations.
Read MoreDowntown Providence has been severely impacted by COVID-19, as tourism and conventions came to an abrupt stop, offices emptied out, and performance venues closed to protect public health. As we plan for the recovery of downtown Providence and the future of our city, The Providence Foundation conducted an online survey of employers.
A total of 37 respondents completed the survey between April 7 and April 23, 2021.
Read MoreIn a special election taking place this March 2nd, Rhode Islander’s have an opportunity to invest in important projects that could foster the growth of its taxbase and mitigate the State’s climate change vulnerabilities.
At top-of-mind for The Providence Foundation is Phase 2 of Dredging the Providence River, inlcuded in the Enviornmental Bond on Question 2.
Read MoreAs a part of Rhode Island Commerce Corporation’s Take It Outside initiative, The Providence Foundation is making available a limited supply of push carts to help food and beverage businesses take their services outside.
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