People on the Move: Frost Named President of Proactive Development at RIHousing

People on the Move: Frost Named President of Proactive Development at RIHousing

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New RI Housing Position

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Ben Frost has been appointed "President of Proactive Development" at RIHousing. 

The new venture has been funded as part of the Governor and General Assembly’s investment of State Fiscal Recovery Funds into housing and homeless programs. 

In the Rhode Island FY24 budget, $1.4 million was set aide in State Fiscal Recovery Funds for Proactive Development Activities, which are an arm of the Rhode Island Housing Development Corporation, a non-profit affiliate of RIHousing.

Frost will spearhead the activities as President of Proactive Development. 

“I’m excited to be joining RIHousing as the President of Proactive Development, ushering in this new initiative to expand housing production in Rhode Island,” said Frost. “I look forward to bringing my experience and enthusiasm to the role. I’m ready to get to work guiding proactive development  activities across the state and contributing to the critical efforts of providing more housing opportunities for Rhode Islanders.”

Frost has over 35 years of experience as a land use planner and over 25 as an attorney. He worked for New Hampshire Housing for over 18 years, most recently as the Deputy Executive Director and Chief  Legal Officer; before that he held positions at the NH Office of State Planning and various other local and regional governmental agencies in several northeastern states. He is a founder of Housing Action NH, a low-income housing advocacy organization.

He frequently lectures on issues of affordable and workforce housing, land use law, and ethics, and has been recognized by multiple organizations for his work on affordable housing. 

More About Position

Proactive Development will work with other governmental agencies, non-governmental agencies, municipalities, developers of housing and the public to grow housing production across the state. 

According to RIHousing, to accomplish this, the entity will be involved in several activities and initiatives, including:
 
• Identifying and screening properties in Rhode Island for housing potential 
• Developing or supporting the development of site plans, including engineering, surveying,  architectural and financial planning and models concerning properties supporting housing 
• Making recommendations and assisting in the facilitation and navigation of zoning, planning and permitting processes for housing projects 
• Assisting cities and towns in advancing the location and development of housing in their  jurisdictions 
• Building developer capacity and attracting developers  
• Assisting in increasing pre-development activities and sites for housing development
• Supporting efforts to identify and secure funding sources and opportunities for leasing,  acquisition, development, construction, financing, public and private ownership, and  management of housing 
• Facilitating and implementing the financing, assembly, acquisition, leasing, permitting and development of properties for housing 
 
The Proactive Development Committee held its first meeting on September 19.