Planning
On Wednesday, Mar. 24 principal regional planner Kyle Pimental attended the monthly New Hampshire Planners Association (NHPA) Executive Committee meeting. Kyle has served on the Executive Committee for the last several years as the professional development officer. His responsibilities include organizing workshops, conferences, and other activities which improve member's knowledge of current planning techniques and foster the improvement of ethical and professional conduct of association members.
During this month’s meeting, several key announcements were discussed, including:
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Accepting award nominations for Citizen Planner of the Year, Professional Planner of the Year, Plan of the Year, Project of the Year, and the Jeffrey H. Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award. If you would like to put forth a nomination, the deadline for submissions is April 9, 2021 and can be emailed to nhplanners@gmail.com. For more information, please check out the criteria and the nominating form.
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Releasing a survey to engage with the membership on what types of trainings and planning topics should be showcased in this year’s NHPA sponsored events (spring and annual conference, brown bag lunches, webinars, etc.), as well as feedback on event planning logistics.
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Hosting a virtual training webinar with Ken Gallager of OSI to discuss the 2020 Census. Ken will provide demographic and geographic information for planners and the unusual challenges this "count" faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This presentation will look at the modified census enumeration process and the impact on the release of data; the geographic data and NH's State Data Center. The webinar is April 9th at noon and free to attend. If you are interested in attending, please register here.
To learn more about being a NHPA member and all the benefits they provide, please visit their website.
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Transportation
The Strafford and Rockingham Planning Metropolitan Planning Organizations were recently awarded a grant through the Federal Transit Administration to update the Coordinated Public Transit & Human Services Transportation Plan for Southeastern New Hampshire. This plan, most commonly referred to as the coordinated plan, is really important in it focus on how to improve transportation service for seniors and people with disabilities. It analyzes the current need for such transportation services and outlines strategies for coordinating existing services or developing new ones.
Once the plan is updated, the incorporated strategies will be implemented over the next three years by both MPOs, the Alliance for Community Transportation, and COAST.
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Economic Development
In late 2020 Strafford Economic Development District staff launched a survey that was sent to the majority of businesses in the SRPC region. In the responses received, staff heard that many of the businesses in SRPC's communities needed support in different areas such as IT, audiovisual, use of Zoom for business activities, cyber security, marketing, website development, among other subjects. These requests for assistance are an outcome of businesses adapting their processes to endure the impacts of the pandemic.
Also in response to the survey, SRPC staff heard that there were other businesses who weren’t as impacted by COVID and have expressed interest in assisting their fellow community members through sharing knowledge and expertise.
In response, SRPC staff are asking those willing and able to offer basic support to another business owner to contact Economic Recovery Coordinator, Natalie Moles with information on what your business specializes in. This will allow for SRPC staff to connect you with someone who can benefit from that type of assistance. This support does not have to be extensive and can simply include connecting via call or email to answer quick questions and offer guidance. Expertise in any area is highly welcomed, and there is tremendous value in supporting other small business owners in your community and region.
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