Dear Rhode Island Land Trust Community,
As Election Day approaches, I’m reaching out with an important reminder: voting Yes on Question 4 (the Green Bond) is critical for the future of land and water conservation programs in Rhode Island.
We worked hard over the past year to secure $13 million in additional funding for conservation in the Green Bond, and YOU made the Green Bond Greener. Without your efforts, the Bond would not include funding to support farmland preservation, open space, or forest health. While I want to thank you for your hard work, I want to remind you that the work is not over until Question 4 passes on November 5th.
The Green Bond includes a range of investments—from brownfield remediation and infrastructure improvements at the Port, to municipal and coastal resilience, to local recreation projects, and the restoration of the Cliff Walk in Newport. It’s important not to lose sight of what the bond issue means for Rhode Island’s conservation community.
The Green Bond is the only opportunity we have to access state funding for the next 2+ years to continue our work. Without this funding, many of our land protection efforts will grind to a halt.
Voting yes on Question 4 also ensures that we can continue leveraging federal and philanthropic dollars to do our work to protect Rhode Island’s important landscapes. For every $1 invested by the state, we are able to unlock an additional $2-3 in matching funds, but we lose access to these funds without the Green Bond.
Please, join me in ensuring that we continue protecting critical forests, open spaces, working farms, and recreational areas by voting Yes on 4.
My very best,
Kate Sayles
Executive Director
P.S. Do you want to help or learn more? Check out the information below!
- Listen to the The Weekly Catch on The Public’s Radio hear me talk about Question 4!
- Learn more about the Green Bond and sign the pledge at sayyeson4ri.com!
- Check out the RI DEM fact sheets with details on each issue.
- Read the op-ed by farmer Andrew Morley.
