Community Values Conversation + Strong Towns 101 Presentation

Date & Time
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 — 6:30–8:30 PM
Arrival & check-in: 6:00–6:30 PM; meeting begins promptly at 6:30 PM

Location
East Smithfield Neighborhood Center
7 Esmond St, Smithfield, RI 02917

The Town of Smithfield is beginning a community-wide conversation about the town’s future as part of its Comprehensive Plan rewrite.

This kickoff event marks the start of the Vision & Values phase of the process. Rather than focusing on specific projects or proposals, the evening will center on shared reflection: what makes Smithfield meaningful, what responsibilities the community holds as it changes over time, and what values should guide decisions over the next 20 years.

The program will begin with a Strong Towns 101 presentation to provide shared context on how communities across the country are thinking about growth, public investment, infrastructure costs, and long-term fiscal health. This presentation is intended to support thoughtful discussion and help frame the conversations that follow.

Participants will then take part in small-group conversations designed to surface community values, lived experiences, and long-term priorities. These discussions will help shape the foundation of the Comprehensive Plan and guide future phases of public engagement and analysis.

No prior planning knowledge is required. This event is open to all residents, business owners, and community members who care about Smithfield’s long-term future and want to be part of an ongoing civic conversation.

Guest Presenter

Edward Erfurt, Chief Technical Advisor at Strong Towns, will offer a brief presentation to help frame the discussion. His work focuses on community-based planning, incremental change, and understanding the long-term impacts of local decisions on town character, public finances, and quality of life.

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Learn more about the Comprehensive Plan re-write