Infrastructure Bank Awards $2 Million Emerging Contaminants Grant to Narragansett Bay Commission for PFAS Detection and Lab Upgrades

For Immediate Release: March 3, 2026

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, the state’s central hub for financing infrastructure improvements for municipalities, businesses, and homeowners, has awarded a $2,011,880 Emerging Contaminants Grant to the Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC). The grant will be used to address Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by enhancing NBC’s laboratory capacity through the addition of specialized equipment and instrumentation.

“Addressing PFAS and other emerging contaminants is a critical priority for protecting Rhode Island’s environment and public health,” said William Fazioli, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank. “By awarding this $2 million grant, we are providing the Narragansett Bay Commission with the resources needed to build sophisticated laboratory capacity. This investment will allow for the precise identification of PFAS sources, a necessary first step in developing effective, long-term infrastructure solutions to remove these contaminants from our water systems.”

“The Narragansett Bay Commission is committed to utilizing the latest technology to safeguard the health of the bay,” said Laurie Horridge, Executive Director of the Narragansett Bay Commission. “We thank the Infrastructure Bank for this grant, which will allow us to modernize our laboratory with the specialized equipment needed to monitor PFAS with high accuracy.”

This grant is part of the Infrastructure Bank’s broader effort to tackle emerging contaminants across the state, utilizing federal and state resources to support critical water quality projects. In Fiscal Year 2025, the Bank provided $15.5 million in Emerging Contaminants grants to help communities and quasi-public entities address these pressing environmental challenges.

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About the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank

Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank is Rhode Island’s central hub for financing infrastructure improvements for municipalities, businesses, and homeowners. We leverage capital in a revolving fund to offer innovative financing for an array of infrastructure-based projects including water and wastewater, road and bridge, energy efficiency and renewable energy, and brownfield remediation. These quality-of-life projects improve the State’s infrastructure, create jobs, promote economic development, and enhance the environment. www.riib.org – Facebook: @RIinfrastructure – Twitter: @RI_InfraBank