Subscribe | Follow | Advertise

Good morning, Providence. This is PVD Current, the newsletter that keeps you in the loop with everything happening in your city.

What to expect in today’s Current:

• 🚗 A look at Rhode Island’s latest push for electric vehicle infrastructure

• 🏥 Brown University Health’s historic agreement to support Providence

• 🌊 A local defense company making waves in underwater technology

Let’s get to it.

— Oscar Punchak

Tide Trivia

Want to see your business or event here?

Click the button below to learn more about advertising with us.

Currents & Waves

💰 Brown University Health Signs $1.5M PILOT Agreement

Mayor Brett P. Smiley and Brown University Health CEO John Fernandez announced a historic Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement between the City of Providence and Brown University Health (formerly Lifespan). The hospital system will contribute $1.5 million over three years, marking its largest annual contribution in a decade. The agreement also formalizes the $50 million in community contributions made annually by Brown University Health. This initiative strengthens the city’s commitment to ensuring tax-exempt institutions actively support local growth, with plans for future negotiations on continued contributions.

Colonial Home on Colonial Road 🏡 

Located on a quiet, tree-lined street in Providence’s East Side, 111 Colonial Rd is a charming Colonial home blending historic character with modern updates. This 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom residence features an open floor plan with gleaming hardwood floors, a spacious kitchen, and a cozy sunroom. The upstairs boasts a spa-like renovated bathroom, while the private fenced yard and oversized deck offer the perfect space for outdoor gatherings. With a partially finished basement and proximity to Hope Street’s shops and dining, this home is as convenient as it is inviting. Click here to see more photos.

🔌 RI Leads the Charge on EV Infrastructure

Rhode Island is the first state to launch Phase 2 of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program, aiming to install at least 10 DC Fast Chargers and 100 Level 2 chargers across the state. With $10 million in funding available for public, private, and nonprofit organizations, this initiative supports EV adoption by ensuring charging stations are publicly accessible. Level 2 chargers are suited for longer stops, while DC Fast Chargers provide quick power-ups. Each site must include at least four charging ports, with funding covering up to 80% of costs. Applications are open until February 28, 2025, as Rhode Island builds on its successful Phase 1 completion along I-95.

Coastline Commerce

🌊 RI Company Raises $16.5M for Underwater Drone Development

Portsmouth-based defense tech company Vatn Systems has secured $16.5 million in seed funding, exceeding its $13 million target, to develop low-cost, high-speed autonomous underwater vehicles for the U.S. military. The round, led by DYNE Ventures and supported by prominent investors like Lockheed Martin Ventures and RTX Ventures, will enable Vatn to expand its team and establish a cutting-edge manufacturing facility. Founded in 2023, Vatn Systems designs modular underwater vehicles that use AI for real-time decision-making, capable of delivering precision effects against undersea and surface targets. This innovation could reshape naval warfare and enhance military capabilities with advanced cooperative swarm technologies.

Seaside Skies

MONDAY

65°🌡 40° | 🌤️ | 💧 0% | 💨 NW 11 mph

TUESDAY

59°🌡 35° | ☀️ | 💧 4% | 💨 NW 12 mph

(The forecast as of the night before this newsletter was published.)

Sound Waves

MONDAY

The Parlour | Foundation Mondays | 9pm | $5, 21+

TUESDAY

Moonshine Alley | Tuesdays with Pat Lowell and Friends | 7pm

133 Club | Matt Martin & the Day Drinkers | 7 pm

The Parlour | Metal Night | 9pm | $5

Maritime Matches

TUESDAY

🏀 Amica Mutual Pavilion | Providence College vs Delaware State | 7 pm | Tickets

That’s all for today…

Thank you for reading all the way through! Feel free to email us with any questions or suggestions. You’ll hear from us again on Wednesday.

Thanks,

Oscar Punchak | Publisher, PVD Current