Trends and technologies shaping the future of the construction and public works sectors will be on display at the annual Ocean State Construction and Equipment Show, hosted by the Rhode Island Public Works Association (RIPWA).
The 2026 event will take place on Wednesday, June 17, at the Crowne Plaza, 801 Greenwich Avenue in Warwick, Rhode Island, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event brings together industry leaders, equipment manufacturers, public works professionals, contractors, and suppliers from across New England to explore the latest innovations in construction tools, machinery, materials, and services.
“From heavy machinery displays to hands-on tool demonstrations, the show offers an invaluable opportunity to network with key decision-makers, discover new products, and build strategic business connections,” said Erin Gingerella, Administrative Assistant at RIPWA. “The event also features educational sessions designed to help professionals stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry.”
Gingerella said the organization anticipates another good turnout with the selling out of booth space.
The grand ballroom and foyer inside will be filled with vendors offering smaller tools and equipment or services related to the industry. The vendors will bring years of experience and knowledge about how the products improve construction and maintenance operations.
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The parking lot at the Crowne Plaza will host many varieties of large equipment and tools, with knowledgeable staff available to discuss the benefits of each piece of equipment.
On the day of the show, setup starts early. Vendors begin at 5:30 a.m. Larger equipment is brought in the day before the show.
Judging from last year’s show, Gingerella expects 1,000 attendees from Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, including departments of transportation, highway, maintenance, and construction industries.
“We are anxious to see our favorite supporting vendors as well as the many new vendors that have already registered for this year’s show,” Gingerella said.
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During the show, attendees will have the opportunity to explore offerings from 100 vendors, mostly from New England with a few from various other states.
The products shown will range from large construction equipment, highway equipment, and equipment commonly used in public works or maintenance facilities to smaller parts, products, and services often coordinating with construction, public works, landscaping, or maintenance.
“This show is always a great way for attendees to meet and build relationships with the companies they need in order to have a safe, productive year,” Gingerella said. “Many companies also offer great swag, and most attendees leave with a bagful.”
Show tickets are free and are given out to participating vendors in advance so they can reach out to their own potential customers and invite them for lunch and the chance to see equipment that can increase productivity and efficiency in their own businesses.
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In addition to vendors reaching out to their customers, RIPWA extends invitations to all Rhode Island public works departments as well as surrounding Connecticut and Massachusetts public works departments. Water departments, parks and recreation departments, highway departments, airport staff, and school and college facilities management departments are also invited. Extra tickets are available at the door.
Gingerella said funds from the show are used to help provide in-person training to Rhode Island public works departments. Offerings during the past year included trench box safety, pavement preservation symposium, CPR/AED/first aid, flagger certification, forklift training, grader training, snowplow operations class and hands-on practical, driver and snowplow training, national snow and ice conference, and a winter maintenance supervisors certification class.
The organization also offered welding safety, chipper safety, and sander calibration classes in coordination with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation’s Local Technical Assistance Program (RI LTAP). The Public Works Academy and Winter Snow and Ice Academy were conducted collaboratively with RI LTAP. They each provided several weeks of training to get new hires up to speed and working safely.
“Our goal is to continue to provide in-person safety training to Rhode Island public works departments,” Gingerella said. “We spent approximately $20,000 last year and anticipate the same this year.”
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Gingerella added that training was not the organization’s only goal in the past year.
“We also hosted a well-attended Public Works Roundtable,” she said. “Roundtables are a great way to cooperatively share information and network new ideas and programs for public works. Last year’s roundtable was on major weather events and issues. Policies, parking bans, and evacuation plans were just a few of the topics discussed. For each roundtable, we invite contacts from the local, state, and federal government, as well as any other pertinent contacts, to help answer questions and build relationships.”
At this year’s show, the association will host the following classes for Rhode Island public works employees:
- CPR/AED/First Aid American Heart Certification from 8:30 a.m. to noon
- Flagger Certification from 8:00 a.m. to noon
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Attendees must register for training sessions at RIPWA.org.
The show also features the Build a Better Mousetrap Contest.
“This competition highlights innovative solutions to everyday problems or issues that public works departments encounter,” Gingerella said. “Departments are encouraged to enter a tool, piece of equipment, or process that has been developed or modified by their own staff to increase safety, reduce costs, or improve efficiency for their team.”
Last year, RIPWA awarded gift cards to East Greenwich for their winning entries — conversion of a dump truck to a plow/sander as well as the addition of an in-house-built plow mount on their RTV.
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Each year, RIPWA also sponsors a golf tournament to benefit public works training. Last year the group raised over $6,500. The tournament’s winning team was Portside Tavern, second was ATS, and third was Crossman Engineering.
Ticket holders to the construction and equipment show will have a complimentary lunch, as well as opportunities to win raffle prizes donated by vendors.
“We are looking forward to a great show and cannot wait to see all of the new, innovative products, equipment, and services,” Gingerella said.
For more information, tickets, or to register as a vendor, visit RIPWA.org.
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A list of current registered vendors can be found on the events page of the RIPWA website.
RIPWA was formed in 1989, and the annual construction and equipment show began not long after that.
“RIPWA began its equipment show at Wright's Farm and branched out to having two shows a year when we added an outdoor show at the Washington County Fairgrounds,” Gingerella said. “In 2017, we switched back to one show and moved it to the Crowne Plaza as a more central and easily accessible location with good space for both indoor and outdoor vendors. The 2020 show had to be canceled, and in 2021 we moved the show outdoors at Quonsett for COVID safety. We eventually moved the show back to the Crowne Plaza.”
The mission of RIPWA is to support high-quality training and educational opportunities for the public works community in Rhode Island; to represent the interests of the public works community to the general public as well as federal, state, and local government bodies and agencies; and to provide a forum to public works employees for the exchange of ideas and technical information that is helpful to them in conducting their daily duties and responsibilities.
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RIPWA is run by a Board of Directors as follows:
- Steve Daignault, President
- Mike DiCicco, Co-Vice President
- Brian Wheeler, Co-Vice President
- Kevin McGee, Treasurer
- Boyd King, Executive Board Member
- Tim Ledogar, Vendor Board Member
- Steve Mattscheck, Past President
- Gary Tedeschi, Executive Director
- Erin Gingerella, Administrative Assistant
- Tory Perrotta, Training Coordinator
