Climate Action Plan Discussion Participants Set Priorities for the Nashua Region | |
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NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) has been awarded a $3 million grant through the EPA to create an updated Climate Action Plan. This is the first of two phases of the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG). Under this planning grant, a Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) must be completed by March 1, 2024, and will be the basis for evaluation of proposals to compete for $4.6 billion in implementation grants under Phase 2 of the program in April 2024.
As part of this planning process, NH Listens, in collaboration with NHDES, is holding a series of community conversation across the state. NRPC hosted an in-person community conversation on January 18. More than 20 participants from our region took part in three breakout sessions. Participants prioritized projects, programs, and policies that are ready for implementation to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in the region. Key themes that emerged centered around incentives for weatherization, advancing workforce development, enhancing the accessibility of electric vehicles (EVs), and broadly educating the public on these topics.
The outcomes from this session will also be included in the Greater Boston Climate Action Plan for the Boston Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The “Boston MSA” encompasses 167 communities within eastern Massachusetts and parts of southern New Hampshire including the NRPC region. The Greater Boston Climate Action Plan is spearheaded by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, in collaboration with NRPC and six other regional planning agencies.
For more information on the NH Climate Action Plan and how to get involved in future in-person and virtual listening sessions, refer to the NH Listens website: https://carsey.unh.edu/new-hampshire-listens/updating-new-hampshire-climate-action-plan.
To learn about the Climate Action Plan for Greater Boston, you can visit: https://www.mapc.org/resource-library/metro-boston-regional-climate-action-plan/
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NRPC's Transportation Lookup Tool
Here's a useful piece of technology to help you with your community transportation needs - the Community Transportation Service Provider Lookup dashboard! Click on the link button below to access the interactive dashboard (pictured below) that allows users to look up community transportation service providers in the Greater Nashua region.
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Mary A. Brundage,
Regional Planner III
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Kate Lafond,
Assistant Director
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NRPC Welcomes Back
Two Staff Members!
NRPC is pleased to announce the return of two former staff members, Mary Brundage and Kate Lafond.
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Mary Brundage returned to the NRPC in November as a Regional Planner after a ten-year hiatus to raise children and pursue real estate. She has a M.S. in Natural Resource Management from Antioch University New England and a B.S. in Earth Sciences from Montana State University - Bozeman. Originally from Chelmsford, MA, she moved to southern NH over 20 years ago. She currently resides in Nashua, with her husband, Zeb, two children, and two rabbits. Mary is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys long-distance running, skiing, camping, and hiking. She is excited to rejoin our land use team!
Kate Lafond rejoined NRPC in January to assist in the oversight of the Commission's day-to-day operations with a focus on financial and personnel management, as well as provides guidance for strategic organizational planning. She brings expertise in governmental and non-profit administration, finance, and grant management. Kate has worked for various NH towns in finance and administration roles as well as the Center for Disease Control Foundation helping state jurisdictions manage federally funded grant programs. With NRPC, she has previously held the role of Business Manager and more recently Finance Director.
Welcome back Mary and Kate!
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NRPC Completes the 2023-2050 Regional Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP)
NRPC has completed the 2023-2050 Regional Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) which guides the long-term strategy for the regional transportation system. NRPC partnered with local governments, transportation agencies, community organizations, local stakeholders, and residents, to adopt the MTP in December.
The MTP is important because it includes both long-range and short-range strategies & actions that support a multimodal transportation system that safely & efficiently moves people and goods throughout the region.
An exciting strategy that the Plan recognizes is the need to integrate emerging technologies into our future transportation system. The following are a few of the emerging technologies that are gaining traction in the future of transportation. Many seek to improve efficiency, productivity, safety, equity, and sustainability efforts:
- Electric Vehicles (EV’s)
- Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technologies
- Adaptive Traffic Control Systems
- Connected/ Autonomous Vehicles
- Curbside Management
- E-Commerce
- Shared Mobility
- GPS-Related Technologies
Visit NRPC's website to view the full plan and contact Matt Waitkins or Ned Connell with any questions.
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NRPC's New Statement of Strategy | In the Spring of 2023, NRPC began developing an update to our Strategic plan working with the consulting firm RHL Strategies. The main purpose of the plan or Statement of Strategy is to provide a high-level roadmap for the Commission’s workplan for the next five years. This document serves as an articulation of strategic priorities to assist the Commission in aligning its efforts to address the needs of our communities. In addition, it provides a benchmark against which our progress may be assessed over time. The final document, adopted by the Commission in December of 2023, is based on extensive outreach to regional stakeholders including a comprehensive on-line survey, a virtual input session, stakeholder interviews and multiple meetings with the full NRPC Commission, the Executive Committee, and staff. | |
Click on the image above to read more! | | | |
Bridging the Digital Divide: A Call for Digital Equity in Greater Nashua
The United Way of Greater Nashua recently took a significant step toward addressing the digital equity issue by convening the first "Greater Nashua Digital Equity Commission" meeting. United Way of Greater Nashua's role in this commission is funded by a Microsoft TechSpark grant. Key regional stakeholders gathered at NRPC offices, including representatives from Nashua Public Health, Nashua Regional Planning Commission, Harbor Care, Comcast, the Boys and Girls Club of Souhegan Valley, and Scott Slattery of UNH Cooperative Extension who is tasked with developing part of the New Hampshire's Digital Equity Plan focused on Hillsborough County. The NH Digital Equity Plan, a comprehensive guide to addressing digital disparities across New Hampshire, can be accessed at nhdigitalequity.org.
Key challenges were identified during the meeting, including the need for access to devices, skills training, cybersecurity, depletion of federal program funding (ACP), and a lack of awareness about financial assistance programs such as Comcast Internet Essentials. Responses to the question, "What are the biggest Digital Equity needs in our community?" included navigating the websites of local service providers which highlights the importance of user-friendly interfaces. There was a consensus that personalized, one-on-one education is crucial, particularly for seniors who may require easy-to-use cell phones with large displays.
To address the rapid obsolescence of technology, there was a call for increased advertising about accessing inexpensive broadband. Diverse solutions to access problems were recommended, along with the proposal to have digital literacy experts within agencies and public spaces, like libraries. The focus on homeless and low-income individuals underscored the need for all stakeholders to continue to commit to collaborating, advocating, and implementing solutions so that everyone in the NRPC communities can harness the power of technology for their benefit. The Greater Nashua Digital Equity Commission will meet monthly to develop specific goals and strategies. the next commission meeting is scheduled for Friday, February 16 at 9 a.m.
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Legislative Update: Affordable Housing | |
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Additional dollars for affordable housing
Senate Bill 454 would mandate that the first $10 million of revenue collected from the real estate transfer tax (RETT) is transferred to New Hampshire’s affordable housing fund. Currently, $5 million of RETT revenue goes to the affordable housing fund, which is administered by the NH Housing Finance Authority.
Last week, NHAR testified in favor of the bill, arguing that there is an obvious nexus between the RETT revenue and affordable housing, and therefore sending some of those tax dollars to support the expansion of housing opportunities would be entirely appropriate. At the same time, NHAR was clear that any future efforts to increase the RETT rate, or to dedicate transfer tax receipts to funding which is not directly related to the expansion of housing opportunities, would be vigorously opposed by REALTORS.
The Senate Finance Committee is expected to take action on the bill in the next several weeks.
Reprinted with permission from New Hampshire Realtors. For more information about pending housing legislation, click here.
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2023 Small Business Survey Report
NH SBDC's 2023 New Hampshire Small Business Survey was conducted by the UNH Survey Center to assess the needs and challenges of businesses throughout the state in late fall 2023. Sixty-six business organizations, from a wide range of industries and regions, partnered with the NH SBDC to encourage their communities to participate in the survey. Overall, 829 participants from 157 towns and cities completed the survey.
SBDC and other NH economic development partners are listening, learning and better able to respond to the business community’s needs with the information we have gained from the 2023 survey. We explored how businesses have built resiliency and where they may still need our help, and what factors are currently affecting businesses. Read the key findings here.
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See what's happening this month. | |
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February 8, 2024, at 1:00 p.m.,
Lower Merrimack Valley Stormwater Coalition Meeting (remote).
Contact: Dawn Tuomala
February 14, 2024, at 12:00 p.m.
Transportation Technical Advisory Committee
Contact: Matt Waitkins
February 16, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. Greater Nashua Digital Equity Commission Contact: Jay Minkarah
February 19, 2024, President's Day. NRPC office closed.
February 20, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. Bike Talk: Rail Trail Challenge (remote). Brought to you by Bike Walk Alliance of NH. Register here: Bike Talk (Zoom): NH Rail Trail Challenge
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Have an event or workshop you'd like highlighted? Let us know!
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Looking to stay informed about NRPC?
Attend our meetings! Agendas are posted approximately five days in advance on the NRPC online calendar, or reach out to staff contacts to be added to group email lists. Unless otherwise noted, meetings will be held at: 30 Temple Street, Suite 310, Nashua, NH.
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SBDC's webinars focus on the needs of small businesses all around the state of New Hampshire. Topics of webinars range from starting a business to growing a business, including; financial matters, marketing, cyber, DEI, and many more.
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Are you following us on social media?
Be sure to follow us for updates on events like Household Hazardous Waste collections, general information about NRPC and what we do, projects we are working on, helpful tips on a variety of topics, regional information, and so much more!
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Nashua Regional Planning Commission
30 Temple Street, Suite 310
Nashua, NH 03060
(603) 417-6570
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