Vision 2037

Vision 2037 is a long-term governing blueprint for rebuilding the City of Woonsocket and creating a stronger, more financially sustainable, economically competitive, and desirable community by 2037.

Executive Summary

Rebuilding the City people are proud to call home.

The plan begins from the premise that Woonsocket's challenges cannot be solved through isolated projects, short-term political decisions, or simply spending more money. The City needs a coordinated strategy that establishes priorities, measures results, strengthens municipal operations, encourages private investment, improves neighborhoods, and restores confidence in city government.

Vision 2037 - The Woonsocket Recovery Plan cover

I would be honored to serve as your Mayor. This is my Pledge to you.

Restore | Rebuild | Rediscover | Measure

The Four Pillars

Restore

Restore confidence and trust in city government, fiscal discipline, neighborhood stability, public spaces, infrastructure, and pride in Woonsocket.

Rebuild

Rebuild the City's economic foundation, housing stock, infrastructure, municipal operations, commercial districts, neighborhoods, and ability to attract investment.

Rediscover

Rediscover Woonsocket's identity, history, architecture, natural resources in the Blackstone River, neighborhoods, cultural assets, and potential as a place to live, work, invest, visit, and raise a family.

Measure

Establish measurable goals and publicly track results so residents can determine whether Vision 2037 is actually working.

Where Woonsocket Stands

A factual baseline before solutions.

Woonsocket at a Glance examines population, income, poverty, housing, homeownership, education, employment, commuting, and other indicators. That baseline lets the City compare future conditions with where Woonsocket stood when the plan began.

Housing is especially important: the summary identifies a relatively low homeownership rate and a housing market dominated by rental occupancy, connecting directly to neighborhood stability, property conditions, tax policy, homeownership, and redevelopment.

Woonsocket at a Glance

Economic Opportunity

Assets that can become the foundation of recovery.

Vision 2037 identifies Woonsocket's geographic position within the Economic Triangle connecting the city to Providence, Worcester, and Boston.

The plan also points to historic mill buildings, established neighborhoods, municipal infrastructure, parks, the Blackstone River, architectural heritage, developable and underutilized property, and a compact urban form.

A Different Standard For City Government

The Woonsocket Standard

The Woonsocket Standard is the set of principles against which city decisions should be evaluated. City government exists to serve residents and should operate professionally, transparently, and consistently.

Honesty People First Results Matter Fiscal Discipline Accountability Professional Government Long-Term Thinking Fairness & Consistency Collaboration Pride in Woonsocket

From Recovery To Growth

Three stages of progress.

Stabilization: improve finances, municipal operations, neighborhoods, infrastructure, and basic city conditions.
Rebuilding: address properties and infrastructure, strengthen the tax base, encourage homeownership and investment, improve the business environment, and create conditions for economic growth.
Rediscovery & Growth: reposition Woonsocket as a community with a distinctive identity and competitive advantages - a city where people choose to live, businesses choose to invest, and visitors have reasons to come.

Throughout all three stages, Measure provides accountability through benchmarks, timelines, and publicly reported results.

The 2037 Objective

More than a collection of projects.

Where is Woonsocket today? Where do we want Woonsocket to be in 2037? What specific actions will get us there - and how will we know whether they worked?

The ultimate objective is a Woonsocket with a stronger tax base, stable neighborhoods, responsible finances, improved infrastructure, increased economic opportunity, effective municipal government, greater private investment, stronger community pride, and a clear direction for its future.

Restore | Rebuild | Rediscover | Measure

That is the central idea behind Vision 2037.

A plan for today. A vision for tomorrow. A legacy for the next generation.

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