Ten years ago, Central Falls was making national headlines for all the wrong reasons. The city, home to one of the highest concentrations of Latin residents in New England, had filed for bankruptcy and was placed under state receivership. Today, it tells a very different story.

Central Falls has balanced its budget for eight consecutive years, rebuilt its pension fund, and attracted more than $200 million in new investment. The turnaround is widely credited to the resilience and entrepreneurial spirit of its predominantly Latin population.

The Numbers

The city's poverty rate, while still above the state average, has declined from 41 percent in 2011 to 28 percent today. Homeownership rates among Latin families have increased by 9 percentage points, and the number of Latin-owned businesses has nearly doubled.

Community-Led Recovery

Unlike many urban recovery stories driven by outside developers, Central Falls' revival has been largely community-led. Local organizations including the Central Falls Neighborhood Health Station, the Latin American Community Center, and numerous faith communities played central roles in stabilizing families and creating economic opportunity during the crisis years.

"We didn't wait for someone to come save us," said longtime resident and community organizer Esperanza Delgado. "We organized, we advocated, and we built the institutions we needed ourselves."

Looking Forward

Mayor Maria Rivera, who was elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, has focused her administration on workforce development, youth programs, and attracting light manufacturing jobs that pay living wages.

The city recently broke ground on a new community center that will house ESL classes, job training programs, and a health clinic — all services that were identified by residents as critical needs.

"Central Falls is proof that when you invest in a community rather than write it off, remarkable things happen." — Mayor Maria Rivera