Bits and Pieces: A Weekly Update from the Strafford Region

Data collection intern Mark Davie sets one of the first counts of the season in downtown Farmington. (SRPC Photo)

Planning

On Wednesday and Thursday, May 26-27, principal regional planner Kyle Pimental attended the 2021 Coastal Adaptation Workgroup (CAW) Climate Summit. With a theme of 'Staying the Course, Moving Ahead: Progress Towards a More Resilient Coastal Watershed', over 16 speakers presented on a variety of topics from lessons learned from community-based programs to climate considerations in local master plans and how climate affects transportation and other infrastructure.

In addition to attending various sessions, Kyle was also a presenter on Day 1 of the Summit, which was attended by over 100 stakeholders.

Kyle gave a short presentation on 'Forward-Looking Floodplain Mapping in Lee, NH.' He introduced the project as a partnership between the Coastal Program, UNH and Geosyntec, and detailed the importance and benefits of floodplain modeling efforts in the context of revising or amending local regulations in the town of Lee.

The summit was recorded, and the video will soon be shared for those that need a refresher, or for stakeholders who weren't able to attend.

To learn more about CAW and their programming visit: https://www.nhcaw.org/

Pieces of Interest

NNECAPA Open Nomination Round for Annual Awards

Transportation

During the week of May 24, Strafford Metropolitan Planning Organization's (MPO) data collection team set the first traffic counts of the season in and around Farmington's downtown. Mark Davie, Strafford MPO's newest data collection intern, assisted planning technician Stephen Geis in setting these first 10 counts.

This summer, Strafford MPO staff will set 112 NHDOT assigned counts, in addition to supplemental counts requested by municipalities. Requests for supplemental counts can be directed to sgeis@strafford.org.

For more information about Strafford MPO's traffic count program visit:

http://strafford.org/services/trafficcount.php

Pieces of Interest

Did You Know: NHDOT Safety Patrol

Economic Development

For its 2020 annual meeting Strafford Regional Planning Commission held its first webinar in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The topic, Innovative Local Economy Adaptations in Response to COVID-19, was discussed by guest speakers, Emmet Soldati (Teatotaller), Jenn Marsh (Rochester Office of Economic Development), and Shawn Menard (Seacoast Eat Local).

In follow-up to last year's webinar, SRPC will again hold its annual meeting as a virtual event. For this year's meeting, a year later, SRPC has invited a panel of experts to discuss advancing local projects and preparing for post-COVID communities. More specifically, panelists will present on 'Pipelines for Funding Local Projects' including how to develop community project concepts, integrate them into local CIPs, and best position yourself to take advantage of expected and unexpected funding sources.

Please join SRPC on Thursday, Jun. 24 from 4:00-5:30 p.m. for a facilitated conversation with panelists Alan Brigham (US Economic Development Administration), Katy Easterly Martey (NH Community Development Finance Authority) and Chris Parker (City of Dover).

View the invite here, and register online at https://tinyurl.com/4z3afm4c.

Pieces of Interest

America's SBDC NH COVID Relief Updates

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

May 28, 2021