2019 Traffic Count Season Staff ( SRPC Photo).
Planning

On Tuesday, May 19 Jen Czysz, executive director, Nancy O’Connor, equity and engagement planner, and Shayna Sylvia, communications and outreach planner, had the opportunity to engage with representatives from the Tufts Health Plan Foundation to discuss a grant application submitted in March.  

This proposed program, if funded, would allow SRPC staff to partner with the Greater Seacoast Community Health to expand its services further into the public health sector, a SRPC goal over the last couple of years. The project would focus on responding to and planning for the aging population in the region, and in the state. Staff are excited about proposed partnerships that would be created through this project and have already engaged with several of these potential partners.  

Staff look forward to hearing the results in June, and the opportunity to connect with many new stakeholders. 

Pieces of Interest


Transportation
Jen Czysz, executive director, Stefanie Casella, regional planner, and Rachel Dewey, data analyst, have been hard at work over the past couple of weeks planning and preparing for the summer data collection season. Strafford Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has been working extra hard this year to ensure the safety and health of its field work staff considering the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  

Two interns were hired to assist with the seasonal field work, and will begin next week on May 27.  

Strafford MPO is updating its safety and field work protocols and has processes in place, including pre-determined field work teams to limit contact between staff members and protect employee health. 

The actual data collection will begin in early June, and beginning this year staff will have access to a field work vehicle; the lease is being finalized over the next few days. 

For more information contact Stefanie Casella at scasella@strafford.org. 


Pieces of Interest


Economic Development
Strafford Economic Development District (EDD) staff James Burdin and Nancy O’Connor have begun preparations for two economic development grants they will be applying for in the coming weeks. One, a proposal for continued funding through the Economic Development Administration (EDA), is a routine re-application process for program funding as an EDD. 

In addition, staff will be applying through the EDA Cares Act for funding to support economic recovery and resiliency planning. This would support projects such as:   

  • Plan for short- and long-term economic development disaster recovery and resiliency  
  • Implement local and regional economic recovery and resiliency plans  
  • Assist with local Coronavirus recovery planning efforts  
  • Identify economic development grant-eligible projects  
  • Assist municipalities with grant funding applications  
  • Serve as a liaison between local, regional, state, and federal partners to speed the recovery process  
  • Facilitate the implementation of locally generated disaster recovery economic development projects  
  • Provide technical assistance and capacity building for member organizations, local businesses, and other local stakeholders impacted by coronavirus 

Staff reached out to municipalities last week for input and ideas to incorporate into the grant. Additional suggestions can be forwarded to Nancy O’ Connor at the town or city's earliest convenience. 

For more information contact James Burdin at jburdin@strafford.org.


Pieces of Interest


Strafford Regional Planning Commission | 603-994-3500 | srpc@strafford.org | www.strafford.org
May 22, 2020