On Thursday, January 26th,
Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank will be taking part in the Rhode Island League
of Cities and Towns Annual Conference by hosting a panel discussion titled Investing in Your Local Infrastructure.
The panel will highlight the Infrastructure
Bank’s new programs and past successes, and also serve as an opportunity for
municipal leaders to share their experiences working with the Bank. Attendees
will learn how they can take advantage of the Bank’s wide variety of programs to
meet the unique infrastructure financing needs of their communities.
The program
will feature Jeffrey Diehl (CEO, RI Infrastructure Bank), Fred Presley (Town
Manager, West Warwick), Dylan Zelazo (Chief of Staff, Pawtucket), Jan Reitsma (Town
Manager, Warren), and Michael Baer (Senior Advisor, RI Infrastructure Bank).
Topics to be discussed include the
Infrastructure Bank’s role in promoting infrastructure investment in the state,
how the Bank is making it easier to do business in Rhode Island, and the future
investment needs Rhode Island’s communities. Guests will also have the chance
to participate in a question and answer period.
RIIB CEO Jeffrey Diehl will also participate
in a second panel discussion titled “Using an Intermediary to Issue Municipal
Debt.” The discussion will be moderated by Peder Schaefer, Associate Director
of the RI League of Cities and Towns and will also include William Fazioli of
the PFM Group and Bob Donovan of the RI Health and Education Building
Corporation. Diehl and the other panelists will discuss the benefits of issuing
debt through an intermediary, including the financing options available to
communities through the Infrastructure Bank.
Additionally, RIIB Senior Advisor
Michael Baer will appear on a separate panel discussion titled “Saving Money by
Implementing Energy Projects.” The panel, moderated by West Warwick Town
Manager Fred Presley, will also include representatives from the state Office
of Energy Resources. Topics to be discussed include the Bank’s Efficient
Buildings Fund and Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) programs.
