2026 Grant Applications Are Open!

Bloom Rhode Island is pleased to announce online applications are open for a total of  $200,000 to be given to local gardeners and nonprofits to create and/or maintain beautiful plantings in public spaces in five Rhode Island cities: Central Falls, East Providence, Pawtucket, Providence, and Woonsocket. Please submit your proposal (links below) by Friday, February 27, 2026.

For Local Gardner grants of $50-$500, available to teams of three or more people working on a project together, please use this Google Form:

https://forms.gle/814p9cnCVCHiqeE68

For larger grants of $501-$10,000, you must be a nonprofit organization or be fiscally sponsored by one. Please use this Google Form:

https://forms.gle/gHtq1ePwi7bSUxjX7

More info on our grants:

Bloom Rhode Island supports non-food gardening projects that make publicly visible spaces more joyful, especially in areas without many flowers. We focus on decorative and flowering planting projects, including cutting gardens. 

We give grants for:

- Planting of publicly visible and accessible spaces, particularly in densely populated areas

- Maintenance, including watering, of the same

- Design and consulting for public green spaces and gardens

- Plant identification signage

Past grants have included flower cutting gardens, plantings along city sidewalks, the redesign of a city library front yard, decorative plantings in the entryway of an eldercare center, large container gardens on a busy city street, a community flower garden in a public park, etc. 

This year we are excited to add more opportunities for more shared learning among the network. In addition to our popular facilitated discussions, we will also offer an informal project charrette, and expert advisors to guide projects.

Got questions? We would love to talk about your project! Please reach out to Kevin Essington, the Bloom Rhode Island program coordinator to discuss your ideas or answer your questions at programs@bloomrhodeisland.org.

2025 Project grants included:

Providence Streets Coalition, North Main Street Safety and Beautification Pilot (Providence) 

Providence Streets Coalition (PVD Streets) will add large flower planters to North Main Street as a simple yet effective strategy for traffic calming. These planters will serve as physical barriers between sidewalks, bike lanes, and vehicle traffic, reducing the likelihood of serious crashes that endanger human lives. Beyond safety, the flowers in these planters will create inviting public spaces bringing more joy to the area. 

Good Neighbors, Inc., Food Pantry Cutting Garden (East Providence) 

Recipient for a second year, Good Neighbors continues their community cut flower garden from 2024, growing and offering bouquets of cut zinnias and other flowers to the food pantry’s many customers. As volunteers described last year, working in the garden and creating beautiful bouquets is therapeutic for their clients and neighbors alike. 

Sharieff's Project, Outdoor Gathering Space (Central Falls)

Sharieff's Project will to transform a large empty yard into a picnic and gathering space for cafe customers and staff who have had to "start over" after life challenges.

Black Rock Community Foundation, Downtown Planters and Maintenance (Pawtucket)

The Black Block Community Foundation is proud to help further the 10-year action plan proposed for downtown Pawtucket. The Foundation has secured agreements with building and business owners to install semi-permanent planting receptacles with perennials and annuals to be planted by shop owners, youth, and adults in connected programming.  

Woonsocket High School, School Spirit Plantings (Woonsocket)

Woonsocket High School will add two raised flower beds and a large "W" planted with red outlined in white flowers to the front of the school. Students will learn life skills by assisting with the garden, especially by seed starting which will begin shortly in classrooms. The cut flowers from the garden will be used for the school community and shared with neighboring senior groups.

Additionally in 2026, Bloom Rhode Island awarded 48 local gardener grants for decorative and native planting projects at locations like the Hunt Street Garden in Central Falls, Rumford Little League in East Providence, Marconi Gardens in Pawtucket, Lima Elementary School in Providence, and Woonsocket Harris Public Library in Woonsocket. 

Contact

Interviews can be arranged with Program Manager Kevin Essington by contacting Matthew Lawrence at communications@189development.org. Photos are available on request.