Ben Frost named President of Proactive Development

Providence, RI – Governor McKee, the Rhode Island Department of Housing, and RIHousing today announced the appointment of Ben Frost as the President of Proactive Development, a position that will sit within RIHousing. The new venture has been funded as part of the Governor and General Assembly’s historic investment of State Fiscal Recovery Funds into housing and homeless programs.

“Rhode Island is committed to taking proactive steps to identify and implement strategies that yield needed increases in housing production at all levels,” said Governor Dan McKee. “We are fortunate to have someone of Ben Frost’s caliber lead this charge.”

In the Rhode Island FY24 budget, Governor McKee set aside $1.4 million in State Fiscal Recovery Funds for Proactive Development Activities. These activities 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 am very pleased that Ben Frost, who has more than three decades of housing and land-use planning experience, will be directing proactive development for our state,” said Rhode Island House of Representatives Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi. “This is one of many investments the legislature proudly made in the budget in a collaborative effort to tackle the housing crisis. Having someone at RIHousing with his expertise to provide guidance and direction to municipalities on housing development proposals will help create more housing that Rhode Islanders so sorely need.”

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. To accomplish this, the entity will be involved in a number of 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 with respect to 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

“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 Ben 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. Prior to 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, and has been one of the key leaders of the NH Zoning Atlas. 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.

“The Rhode Island Department of Housing is grateful to welcome Ben Frost as President of Proactive Development within RIHousing,” said Dan Connors, Interim Secretary of the Rhode Island Department of Housing. “His leadership will be instrumental as we work together to address Rhode Island’s housing crisis and boost housing production statewide. This initiative, led by Ben and supported by a historic $1.4 million investment from State Fiscal Recovery Funds, will help us create sustainable housing solutions for all Rhode Islanders.”

Frost received his Bachelor of Arts from Colgate University, his Master’s from Syracuse University, and his J.D. from Cornell Law School, where he concentrated in business law and regulation. He is admitted to the practice of law in New Hampshire.

“Ben Frost joins us with decades of housing experience and knowledge that will assist him in steering proactive development work across Rhode Island,” said Carol Ventura, Executive Director of RIHousing. “By bringing Ben on as the President of Proactive Development, we are ensuring that these activities will be guided by an individual who understands the complexities we face and brings ideas and solutions to the table.”

The Proactive Development Committee held its first meeting on September 19.

About RIHousing
RIHousing works to ensure that all people who live in Rhode Island can afford a healthy, attractive home that meets their needs. RIHousing provides loans, grants, education and assistance to help Rhode Islanders find, rent, buy, build and keep a good home. Created by the General Assembly in 1973, RIHousing is a self-sustaining corporation and receives no state funding for operations. For more information regarding RIHousing, visit RIHousing.com or follow us @RIHousing on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram.