Greetings! 

It’s hard to believe the summer is over. We hope you all had an enjoyable one! In staff news, we say goodbye to one team member and welcome a new one. On Thursday of this week, staff and several commissioners attended a cybersecurity training. Also in this issue is the Partner Spotlight, featuring site visits to Farmington and Milton, a SEDS meeting at Prep Partners in Rochester, and much more!

Until October,

Megan Taylor-Fetter

In this Issue

Staff News

Staff Training

Partner Spotlight

Planning Events of Interest

Grant Corner

Community Happenings

Farewell Courtney

Today we say goodbye to Courtney Grugnale who joined SRPC as Housing Navigator in January 2023. Courtney was one of five grant funded housing navigators hired across the state as part of a one-time InvestNH initiative. As a housing navigator, she worked with the towns of Farmington and New Durham to address housing shortages, challenges, and opportunities. She worked with Farmington’s staff and volunteers to promote various efforts including new zoning and regulatory provisions that would increase opportunities for housing development. In New Durham, she supported community efforts to create a new development committee and led a robust community engagement effort.

Courtney starts a new chapter of her career as the Outreach Coordinator for the Town of Kittery. She will be a great asset to the town, and we will miss her dearly.

Welcome Owen

SRPC welcomes Owen Corcoran who joined SRPC on August 26, 2024 as a Regional Planner. Owen Corcoran is a 20 veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, where he primarily worked in incident and emergency response planning and coordination, maritime law enforcement planning, and marine environmental response coordination. During his time in the Coast Guard, Owen served at sea and on land, as well as worked within the National Incident Management System in the aftermath of multiple natural disasters in support of recovery efforts, including Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, as well as the 2007 San Bernardino Wildfires. After his retirement from active duty, Owen began working toward his graduate degree and began to chart a new career path in planning and land use in Kensington, NH. 

Owen's resides in Amesbury, MA with his wife, 6-year-old son, and two rescue dogs. In his free time, Owen enjoys kayaking, playing bass guitar, and playing minigolf with his son. 

Cybersecurity Training

On September 5, staff and several commissioners participated in a cybersecurity training led by Laura Munyun, Esq., Senior Privacy Counsel of the Atom Group. This training was funded as part of a NH Homeland Security Grant and was coordinated by Primex, SRPC’s comprehensive coverage group.

SRPC Staff attend cybersecurity training annually to keep up to date on current trends and best practices to stay safe. In this year’s training, staff and commissioners gained a better understanding of what to do to prevent a cyber-attack and what to do if there is a cyber emergency. Staff are excited to work to improve policies and procedures to better protect the commission.

There are multiple, simple ways to defend against possible breaches, and it’s good to understand how to address them if they come up. Primex members can request similar training for their staff.

Learn more at https://www.theatomgroup.com/mcdp or if you have any questions contact Rachel Dewey at rdewey@strafford.org.

Site Visits to Farmington and Milton

Last week, SRPC staff member and project lead, Blair Haney, conducted site visits to five (5) public facilities, two in Farmington and three in Milton. The project, funded by a USDA Community Facilities Technical Assistance Grant, engages the community in trainings and discussions about evaluating a facility’s condition and reimagining its purpose. A repurposed public facility, such as an old town hall or underutilized outdoor space, can anchor a town’s sense of place and community spirit.

In Farmington, we visited Town Hall to consider repurposing the upstairs storage area and bringing new life to the beautiful multi-use room in the Recreation Building. After lunch, we visited the Milton Town House, former Town Hall-Emma Ramsey Center, and finally the gorgeous outdoor facilities at Town Beach. The consultant team, led by SLR Consulting’s Bedford, NH office, will review facility plans and town reports then lead public outreach and training sessions with SRPC staff in the coming months. Stay tuned!

SEDS Meeting at Prep Partners

The Seacoast Economic Development Stakeholders (SEDS) group held their most recent meeting in-person on August 27. This meeting was held at Prep Partners Group, a Rochester based third-party logistics company that included discussion with the business’s leadership and a tour of the facility. A diverse group of SEDS members attended representing several communities and industries leading to rich conversation, information sharing, networking, and collaboration. Partners including the Business Resource team at N.H. Department of Business and Economic Affairs and the Strafford Economic Development Corporation, along with the leadership team at Prep Partners Group, helped make this tour possible for the SEDS group. Learn more about Prep Partners Group here.

OTHER PLANNING EVENTS OF INTEREST

September is National Preparedness Month (NPM). NPM is observed each September to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could impact water and wastewater systems. Visit the Environmental Protection Agency’s website for more information.

Get ready for StrongTowns’ LocalMotive series this fall! Check out a new planning webinar and Q&A each Thursday at 1pm starting next Thursday, September 12. $25 each or $125 for all 8 sessions!” For more information, click here.

Sustainable Growth Webinars, Rural Communities Month:

• September 12, 12 to 1pm Growing Rural Economies for Rural Communities. This webinar will introduce the Recreational Economies for Rural Communities program of the U.S. EPA, how it works, and how it can assist in the economic development of rural communities, including two case studies from Hartwell, Georgia and Brunswick, Maryland. Find out more and register for this free webinar via this link.

• September 17, 1pm: Local Land Use and the Rise of Agrivotaics. This webinar will explore local government's role in the development of solar agrivoltaics, including developing codes and ordinances. Speakers will also share lessons learned on managing public expectations and project implementation realities. Find out more and register for this free webinar via this link.

The 2024 New Hampshire and Vermont Cybersecurity Summit is November 7, 2024, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Woodstock Inn and Resort. The summit is open to members of Primex, New Hampshire Schools Boards, and the New Hampshire Municipal Association. For additional Summit details and to register, please click here.

Last chance for HOP Grants! All New Hampshire cities and towns, including those that have previously received a Community Housing Navigator grant or Housing Opportunity Planning Grant, are eligible to apply. Applications are due September 30, 2024.

EPA's Recreation Economy for Rural Communities grant applications now live! Due October 16! Contact Principal Planner Blair Haney for details or attend the webinar above.

Tonight in Barrington: Parents Night Out

Annual St. George Lebanese Fair, Dover

September 8, 12:00 – 5:00 p.m.: In Dover, checkout the 4^th Annual St. George Lebanese Fair. Hosted by the Saint George Parish Families, come Celebrate the Culture and Food. Authentic Lebanese Food and Desserts. Traditional Lebanese Music. 50/50 Raffle. Face Painting and More. Saint George Maronite Catholic Church was established by the dedication of Lebanese immigrants. Visit the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce website for more information. 

SELT Fall Haul Trail Run. Stonehouse Forest, Barrington, September 11. Details.

SELT Geology Tour of Piscassic Greenway, Newmarket, September 12. Details.

Granite State Fair, starts September 12. Get your tickets here. 

Nifty Fifties Fall Festival

Join Harmony Homes on September 24, 11:00am-2:00 p.m for a Nifty 50’s Fall Festival by the Bay. This event will feature live doo wop & oldies music, giant lawn games, raffles, and professional photography for those retro looks! Eat some old-fashioned hamburgers, fries, & root beer floats, and much more! Visit the Dover Chamber of Commerce website for more information. 

SELT Fall Haul Trail Run. Spruce Swamp, Fremont, September 25. Details.

Deerfield Fair, September 26-29. Tickets Now Available.

New Hampshire Book Festival, October 4-5. Concord. Details.

Living Out Loud: The 18th Annual Black New England Conference, October 5. Virtual and in-person at SNHU. Register Here.