Rhode Island 2023 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H6210 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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5	5	2023 -- H 6210
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7	7	LC002685
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9	9	S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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14	14	J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
15	15	MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 TO WATERFIRE PROVIDENCE
16	16	Introduced By: Representatives Slater, and Diaz
17	17	Date Introduced: March 24, 2023
18	18	Referred To: House Finance
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21	21	WHEREAS, WaterFire Providence, an independent, 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organization, 1
22	22	has transformed the capital city into an acclaimed international destination over the past 29 years, 2
23	23	creating one of the leading attractions of the important tourism sector, inspiring millions of 3
24	24	residents and visitors, revitalizing our capital city, building community engagement, and 4
25	25	rebuilding our civic pride by presenting WaterFire for all to enjoy its 85 bonfires on the three 5
26	26	rivers in downtown Providence; and 6
27	27	WHEREAS, The event, complete with music, performers, artists, vendors, and special 7
28	28	events, has revived the nightlife of downtown Providence as an engaging, admission-free event 8
29	29	that appeals to the entire community, drawing nearly one million visitors each year from all 9
30	30	around the world, attracting conventions, and filling our hotels and restaurants, to gather in an 10
31	31	urban park that would otherwise be dark, empty and potentially dangerous; and 11
32	32	WHEREAS, An independent economic evaluation report by the US Army Corps of 12
33	33	Engineers, as part of a dredging feasibility study, determined that the WaterFire event annually 13
34	34	produces an economic output of $151,305,940 (in 2023, adjusted for inflation); in addition, 14
35	35	WaterFire generates over $11,945,205 in direct tax revenue for the State of Rhode Island, based 15
36	36	on a report from Acadia and the University of Rhode Island (in 2023, adjusted for inflation) and 16
37	37	supports nearly 1,300 jobs for community residents; and 17
38	38	WHEREAS, Additionally, each year the WaterFire event secures earned traditional and 18
39	39	new media valued at millions of dollars which strengthens the Creative Capital and State of the 19
40	40	Arts brands and promotes them as a top international cultural tourism destination especially 20
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44	44	during the summer months when hotel occupancy rates are often at their lowest in Providence and 1
45	45	Warwick and hotels charge higher rates and regularly sell out on WaterFire nights, causing room 2
46	46	inventory to be the biggest driver in determining the event’s economic impact and, from 2014 3
47	47	(2,347) to 2022 (3,031), hotel room inventory increased 29 percent; and 4
48	48	WHEREAS, In 2012, WaterFire Providence purchased 475 Valley Street, a long 5
49	49	abandoned and rapidly deteriorating historic-registered, industrial property, which it garnered 6
50	50	millions of dollars in out of state monies and rehabilitated and opened in May 2017 as a 37,000 7
51	51	square foot, multi-use arts venue and neighborhood anchor institution known as the WaterFire 8
52	52	Arts Center; and 9
53	53	WHEREAS, WaterFire Providence is leveraging its strengths, resources, knowledge, 10
54	54	experience and networks to invest in programs that help young members of the BIPOC 11
55	55	community develop the skills and experience that they need to be self-sufficient, contributing 12
56	56	members of the community through the development of the ArtLab@WaterFire and, also, 13
57	57	supporting artists under thirty years of age develop the skills and experience that they need to 14
58	58	advance their careers and become leaders in Rhode Island’s creative economy through the 15
59	59	development of the WaterFire Accelerate program; now, therefore be it 16
60	60	RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not 17
61	61	otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2023-2024, the sum of five hundred thousand dollars 18
62	62	($500,000) to provide operational support for WaterFire Providence; and the state controller is 19
63	63	hereby authorized and directed to draw his orders upon the general treasurer for payment of said 20
64	64	sum, or so much thereof as may be from time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated 21
65	65	vouchers. 22
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72	72	EXPLANATION
73	73	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
74	74	OF
75	75	J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
76	76	MAKING AN APPROPRIAT ION OF $500,000 TO WATERFIRE PROVIDENCE
77	77	***
78	78	This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $500,000 to WaterFire 1
79	79	Providence. 2
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