BITS AND PIECES

A Weekly Update from the Strafford Region

Planning

On Tuesday, Feb. 21, executive director Jen Czysz and planning intern Winders attended the Natural Resources and the Environment Panel & Career Fair, alongside staff from Rockingham Planning Commission and Southern NH Planning Commission.

SRPC promoted its regional planning and data collection intern positions, and engaged with students about what it's like to work in the regional planning field.

Planning Intern Winders, who is currently a UNH student, was able to offer important insight about the value of internships and his experience at SRPC over the last few months.

Transportation

Economic Development

On Tuesday, Feb. 21, executive director Jen Czysz and housing navigator Courtney Grugnale attended the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA) hosted Invest NH Roadshow event.

At the meeting, BEA staff detailed components of Invest NH's housing programs including the municipal per unit grant program and the municipal demolition grant program, both of which are funding municipalities on a rolling, first come-first serve basis.

For the municipal per unit program, if a municipality meets the requirements and submits an application, they will automatically be funded as long as there are still funds in the program. Additionally, a community will automatically be eligible if a developer with a project in their community was awarded a capital grant. These funds are unrestricted.

For the municipal demolition grant program, which is slightly more competitive, municipalities need to go through a review process. As long as they score well, they will be funded if monies are still available. See specifics online.

Following the presentation, there was a great opportunity for networking amongst community and professional planners, economic and municipal professionals, BEA staff, and other stakeholders.

February 24, 2023