Bits and Pieces: A Weekly Update from the Strafford Region

Planning

On Wednesday, Dec. 16 executive director Jen Czysz attended the board meeting of the Workforce Housing Coalition (WHC) of the Greater Seacoast. Jen has served on the WHC Board for the last two years, and provides support along with other members to Executive Director Sarah Wrightsman.

Discussion items at Wednesday's meeting included ongoing work to prepare an organizational strategic plan. The forthcoming draft focuses on communication, engagement, mission advancement and programming.

SRPC's representation on this committee is important as it allows staffers to stay connected to regional expertise in the areas of housing options, affordability, and insecurity. This is extremely useful in components of SRPC mandated functions including its Housing Need Assessment, and housing data and trends reported in its regional master plan.

For questions about the WHC contact Sarah Wrightsman, executive director.

Pieces of Interest

Tri-City shelter provides warmth in storm; homeless say more is needed

NH Workplace Racial Equity Learning Challenge

Transportation

During the week of Dec. 14, communications and outreach planner Shayna Sylvia prepared for Conquer the Cold with senior transportation planner Scott Bogle in their roles as co-coordinators for CommuteSMARTSeacoast. This year's annual commuter challenge may have a modified time , but falls in line with exercising some of those new year's resolutions.

Conquer the Cold, an individual-based challenge, encourages people to walk, bike, or take the bus to work during the entire month of January. Prizes will be awarded dependent on the number of trips logged, and smart commuters will be entered in a grand prize raffle.

Learn more online, or register here.

Already have an account? Then just login in starting Jan. 1 to record your trips. If you have an account and forgot your password, our site is having an error sending you a prompt to change it. Please try again closer to the challenge.

Pieces of Interest

Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Round 4 Opens in January

Economic Development

On Monday, Dec. 14, senior regional planner James Burdin facilitated a meeting of Strafford Economic Development District's (EDD) Brownfield Advisory Committee (BAC).

This committee helps inform Strafford EDD's Brownfields program and at this particular meeting discussed updating the regional inventory of confirmed and potential Brownfields sites. Planning technician Stephen Geis has been assisting with this effort, and staff will soon be reaching out to communities to update descriptions of sites already included in the regional database or to submit new locations.

In other Brownfields news, the City of Somersworth recently received a NH Department of Environmental Services Brownfield grant for cleanup work at the former Police Station property located at 5 Main Street. SRPC staff were able to provide technical assistance in this process and are happy to share the City's success with its application.

If you have a potential brownfield site to add to our regional inventory, please submit it using our site nomination form.

For more information contact James Burdin at jburdin@strafford.org or at 603-994-3500 EXT 103.

Pieces of Interest

Textbook platform wins $200,000 investment from Manchester fund in annual competition

Strafford Regional Planning Commission | 603-994-3500 | srpc@strafford.org| www.strafford.org

December 18, 2020