Executive Director
Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank
William J. Fazioli was appointed as the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank in August 2023. Bill has over 35 years of public administration experience in municipal finance, economic development, and infrastructure investment. Most recently, Bill was the Director of Planning & Economic Development for the City of East Providence where he oversaw the city's largest ever residential, industrial and commercial developments which were shepherded through the midst of the Covid 19 pandemic. His background includes senior financial advisory roles with the nation's largest public finance firms where he implemented successful municipal debt financings for notable regional clients including Boston, MA, Manchester, NH, New Haven, CT, Burlington, VT and Providence, RI. He previously also served as the Executive Director of the New England States Government Finance Officers Association for over 20 years. Bill continues to serve as Chair of the East Providence Waterfront District Redevelopment Commission that is charged with the revitalization of Brownfield properties into vibrant mixed use development projects. Bill earned an MPA degree in public finance from SUNY-Albany and a BA in public administration & sociology from Rhode Island College.
After two years of record issuance — and more than two years of rising inflation — how are issuers meeting the growing needs for upgrades of existing infrastructure along with investments in new projects? Are there sectors that would benefit the most from investing in resilient infrastructure? Should investors price in the effects of climate and severe-weather event related risks? Is there enough demand for the debt that will likely be needed to support the needed infrastructure?