Members of the Brown Community:

This afternoon, I was pleased to join Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley and my counterparts from Rhode Island School of Design, Johnson and Wales University, and Providence College to unveil pending agreements between the City of Providence and its four colleges and universities outlining terms of contributions to the city over the next 20 years. Rooted in a spirit of partnership and a commitment to helping Providence and its residents thrive,  tentative agreements represent Brown’s sustained and deepening dedication to Providence and Rhode Island. They follow months of research, engagement and collaboration with the mayor’s office and our fellow higher education institutions, and they will now move to the Providence City Council for review and approval.

With a pledge to contribute nearly $175 million in direct payments over 20 years, Brown will more than double its annual payments to the city. This reflects our strong commitment to supporting the well-being of the local community through education, research, community engagement, climate resilience and economic development. In addition, we will provide community contributions valued at an average of $6.4 million annually, which support investments in priorities such as K-12 education, community programming and scholarships for local residents. The combined financial impact of voluntary payments and contributions from Brown will total $303.3 million in benefits to the city between 2024 and 2043.

Brown’s commitments are spelled out in two comprehensive, multi-year agreements. The first is a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the city and its four colleges and universities. Over 20 years, the institutions will directly contribute more than $177 million to the city, of which Brown will provide $128.7 million. The MOU outlines five areas that the city and the schools will address collaboratively, with a majority of the payments earmarked for city expenditure in the following areas: pre-K-12 education; equity, diversity and inclusion; community safety and well-being; promotion of the City of Providence as a safe, vibrant and inviting place to live, work and learn; and climate change and resiliency and adaptation infrastructure and policy.

In addition, the four schools will match the dollar amount of their direct financial payments to the city through community contributions, which can include both financial and non-financial support for programs, services and activities that benefit city residents and students. Community contributions may involve voluntary services provided to city employees, scholarships awarded to Providence residents, and support for K-12 education.

Brown’s additional financial commitments are outlined in a separate memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the city, through which the University will commit an additional $46 million — beyond the terms of the joint MOU —  in voluntary payments to Providence. The terms of the in-progress MOA between the city and the University include a 10-year payment schedule, with Brown contributing $6 million in the first two years, $5 million in the following two years, and $4 million in the remaining six years of the agreement. This combines with the contributions in the MOU to total $175 million.

Agreements Credit the Value of Brown’s Community Contributions

The MOA has a “contribution credit” provision that recognizes Brown activities that create a positive economic impact on the city through incremental tax revenue. The MOA stipulates that the city may award Brown a credit toward its annual voluntary payment for direct investments in development projects done in collaboration with the city or with a public or private-sector partner, such as workplace housing, childcare facilities, or the creation of new public plazas and parks. In addition, Brown may reduce its annual voluntary payment should the city realize new tax revenue generated by either Brown’s development projects, or through the sale of University-owned tax-exempt property that places property back on the commercial tax rolls.

As part of the MOA, the city will support Brown’s acquisition of four blocks in the Jewelry District and one block on College Hill. Plans for these blocks, including opportunities for pedestrian-friendly green spaces, will be developed over time in consultation with neighborhood and community partners. The city will extend a parking agreement — included in the 2012 MOA, which leases on-street parking spaces on College Hill for use by Brown employees — through 2043.

The agreements also create channels for identifying and addressing key areas of concern among city residents, including a Quality of Life working group through which city leaders and the higher education institutions can proactively partner on bringing resources and expertise to bear on developing and implementing solutions.

Investing in the success of our home city is embedded in our mission of education, research and service at Brown. With the two agreements, we are committed to direct voluntary payments to Providence between 2024 and 2043 that increase our current average annual investment in city finances to $8.7 million. Our increased financial commitment reinforces the University’s ongoing impact as the largest voluntary financial contributor to the city. In the last decade alone, we have made more than $80 million in direct payments to the city — and thanks to the work of so many students, faculty and staff across campus, we’ve served also as an invaluable community partner, through myriad services, public health initiatives, educational programs for local kids, and more.

The commitments reflected in these new agreements will have a meaningful and positive impact in our local community, and will enable Brown and city leaders to address common challenges, foster community and economic development, and improve the quality of life for those who call Providence home. Later this afternoon, we’ll publish a public announcement on the News from Brown website with additional details and direct links to the proposed MOU and MOA, and I invite you to read the announcement for additional information.

Sincerely,

Christina H. Paxson
President