SRPC Policy Committee meets on the morning of 8.21 Zoom meetings are still strange, but we're getting the work done!!!
Planning

Sunrise Lake Watershed Management Plan

SRPC is soliciting Requests for Qualifications (RFQs) from Qualified Environmental Professionals (QEPs) with proven expertise performing watershed planning to provide guidance for selected tasks related to the development of a watershed management plan for Sunrise Lake’s watershed in the towns of Middleton and New Durham, New Hampshire.  Completed proposals, as outlined under “RFQ Submissions” on our website are due not later than September 11th, 2020 by 5:00 PM (EST). A Questions and answers digest was distributed and posted to our Sunrise Lake Watershed RFQ web page
Notice of Funding Opportunities: FEMA’s Flood Hazard Mitigation 
Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program 

The FMA Program makes federal funds available to State, Local, and Tribal Governments to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings insured under the National Flood Insurance Program. More information can be found here.  

Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program 
The BRIC Program is FMA’s new pre-disaster mitigation grant program that replaces the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) grant program. The BRIC Program makes federal funds available to State, Local, and Tribal Governments for pre-disaster mitigation activities. BRIC supports the 2018-2022 FEMA Strategic Plan by incentivizing investments that reduce risk, including pre-disaster mitigation, and reduce disaster costs at all levels. BRIC also supports the National Mitigation Investment Strategy by helping people prepare for disasters, better learn from past disasters, improve continuously, and innovate. More information is available here.   

Information Webinars on BRIC and FMA 
NH HSEM will be hosting four informational webinars on FEMA’s BRIC and FMA programs. Each webinar will be identical in content but requires registration. Options include Tuesday August 25, 2020 at 10:00 AMTuesday August 25, 2020 at 5:00 PMWednesday August 26, 2020 at 2:00 PM, and Thursday August 27, 2020 at 11:00 AM (click link to be taken to the registration page).  For more information contact: arogers@strafford.org

Pieces of Interest



Transportation
All of SRPC’s transportation work and funding is organized in the Unified Planning Work Program. It is a two-year work program managed with NHDOT and we passed the mid-way point on July 1st. It budgets funding by allocating staff hours for specific tasks throughout the two-year period. While COVID-19 presented many obstacles, SRPC staff have continued to make progress despite new challenges. Last week, Jen Czysz and Colin Lentz met with colleagues from NHDOT and Federal Highway Administration to discuss SRPC’s work progress during year one of the contract.

They discussed how to continue building on successful programs like local pavement condition assessments (Road Surface Management Systems), what additional training and tools are needed because of COVID-19, and what projects SRPC has planned for the coming year. One major highlight: staff successes with new grants and provision of additional local technical assistance left extra time in the Unified Planning Work Program for year two. This additional time can be invested in implementing new transportation technical analysis tools to help identify potential local and regional projects.  

For further information: clentz@strafford.org
 



Pieces of Interest

Economic Development
This week SRPC advertised for a brand-new position: Economic Recovery Coordinator.  Economic development folks in our region are working together in more cooperative ways than ever before. SRPC has been hosting a weekly call with economic development leaders, relevant agencies, chambers of commerce and business owners during this challenging time.  
  
This collaboration has identified a need for a “one-stop shop” in the region to act as a convenor, a clearinghouse, and someone who can keep up to date with very fast-moving and often conflicting information to provide timely and accurate technical assistance to our communities. This position has never existed before and has been created due to anticipated Economic Development Administration CARES Act funding. The position will support communities, assist businesses, and create a streamlined center for information and implementation. We are excited to announce this position and invite you to please share with interested parties!  
 Pieces of Interest



 
Strafford Regional Planning Commission | 603-994-3500 | srpc@strafford.org| www.strafford.org
August 21, 2020