The Power of Place Summit, organized by Grow Smart Rhode Island, returns to the Rhode Island Convention Center Friday, May 23. With this year’s theme focusing on “Positioning Rhode Island for an Economic Renaissance,” the biennial statewide conference offers an opportunity to promote and celebrate successful smart growth, development, policy and planning in the Ocean State.

Online registration is open until 12 p.m. on May 20, after which the admission fee will increase to $175 and only phone and onsite registrations will be accepted. Register and view rates at www.GrowSmartRI.

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 Established in 1998, Grow Smart RI has become the leading advocate for sustainable economic growth, revitalization and improved quality of place in the state’s urban, suburban and rural communities.  According to Scott Wolf, executive director of the award-winning nonprofit, attendees at the upcoming daylong forum should expect a much-needed boost of morale that is timely, in the wake of a recent Gallup Poll that ranked Rhode Island lowest in the country for collective state self-esteem.