Bits and Pieces: A Weekly Update from the Strafford Region

BITS AND PIECES

A Weekly Update from the Strafford Region

Members of the NH Planners Association after a successful goal setting session for 2022. (SRPC photo)

PLANNING

On Wednesday, Mar. 16 communications and outreach planner Shayna Sylvia and principal planner Kyle Pimental attended the monthly NH Planners Association (NHPA) Executive Committee meeting. Shayna serves in the role of social media coordinator, where Kyle serves as the professional development officer for conferences. This meeting allowed E.C. members to cultivate a list of goals for NHPA in 2022, and plan for several upcoming trainings and events.

Currently NHPA E.C. members are preparing for the annual conference, which will be held in the spring, in addition to coordinating promotion for the upcoming NHPA Field Trip to Franklin.

Also, in gearing up for its annual conference, the E.C. is seeking nominations for:

Citizen Planner of the Year
Professional Planner of the Year
Project of the Year
Plan of the Year

For more information, or to nominate a colleague, view the Award Criteria and Nomination Form.

STAFF CONTACT

Kyle Pimental

PIECES OF INTEREST

Where Urban Design And Public Health Intersect

New Statistics Available From the 2016–2020

American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

TRANSPORTATION

During the week of Mar. 14 staff continued to coordinate on a regional electric vehicle charging infrastructure strategy. This effort is focused on helping the region prepare for the $17 million in federal funding that will be coming to New Hampshire for EV charging.

The project team, Colin Lentz, Jackson Rand and Zuzana Duffy, has begun a solicitation

process to identify potential EV charging sites with municipalities . These sites will be reviewed to see if they qualify under specific federal criteria; and will then be mapped and prioritized for future funding. The team is developing a specific EV charging questionnaire to identify potential sites, so look for that in the near future.

The NH Dept. of Transportation is developing a statewide EV charging plan specific to the federal funds that should be approved this fall. This process is newly underway, so reach out to Strafford MPO with any questions or comments.

STAFF CONTACT

Colin Lentz

PIECES OF INTEREST

As Gas Prices Soar, Transit Agencies Say ‘Dump the Pump’

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Staff continue to facilitate the weekly Seacoast Economic Development Stakeholders (SEDS, previously Seacoast Economy) meetings, which provide a space for collaboration amongst area economic development professionals.

Recent topics, such as "How might the situation in Ukraine impact NH businesses (direct exports, ripple effects from sanctions, energy/shipping costs, etc.)?" and involving stakeholders in the process for the 2022 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) have been of particular interest.

Upcoming, SEDS will be hosting guest speakers David F. Choate, executive vice president of Colliers NH, and Kristie Russell, the research manager at Colliers. They will discuss regional trends in business growth, expansion, and relocation. Those interested in attending should email Zuzana Duffy, assistant regional planner.

STAFF CONTACT

Zuzy Duffy

PIECES OF INTEREST

Seacoast SCORE offers Digital Marketing 1 workshop: Seacoast business news

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

March 18, 2022