Bits and Pieces: A Weekly Update from the Strafford Region

BITS AND PIECES

A Weekly Update from the Strafford Region

PLANNING

On Wednesday, July. 27, several staff from SRPC attended a webinar which highlighted the three InvestNH municipal grant programs.

InvestNH is funded through the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery using the state’s allocation of Fiscal Recovery Funds. The three municipal grant programs include the municipal per unit grant, the municipal demolition grant, and the municipal planning and zoning grant.

Pre-applications open today, Jul. 29, and will be accepted on a rolling basis until the programmed $40 million is fully allocated (this is in addition to the $60 million capital grant program). Grant administration is through the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA) and New Hampshire Housing (NHH).

As explained during the webinar, the funds are aimed at stabilizing the housing market through grants that incentivize affordable housing. Staff from BEA and NHH provided participants with a program summary and details of each of the three municipal programs, and important next steps for applying.

To further assist interested applicants, a grant writing and administration webinar is being scheduled for mid-August or reach out to InvestNH@livefree.nh.gov.

Funds through this program must be completely expended by 2024.

Learn more from the State’s Apr. 29 press release.

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TRANSPORTATION

At the Jul. 15 Policy meeting, committee members approved the Strafford Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Nondiscrimination Plan.

This important plan documents SRPC’s mission to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to ensure that no person is excluded from participation in, denied access to, or discriminated against in all planning activities based upon race, color, and national origin. In does so by addressing strategies and practices to ensure SRPC becomes a more active and inclusive MPO, expanding activities to actively reach out to and involve more members of the public and particularly those who are not traditionally heard during the transportation planning process.

This document addresses both Title VI and Environmental Justice requirements and practices.

It can now be viewed on the SRPC website.

STAFF CONTACT

Colin Lentz

PIECES OF INTEREST

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

On Thursday, Jul. 28 senior communications and outreach planner Shayna Sylvia facilitated Explore Moose Mountain’s (EMM) monthly meeting. Attended by involved residents of the Moose Mountains region and WEDCO executive Director Denise Roy Palmer, these meetings allow for discussion on local economic development and happenings in the seven-town EMM region of Brookfield, Farmington, Middleton, Milton, New Durham, Wakefield and Wolfeboro.

EMM, which was established in 2014, is a grassroots initiative providing information and support to residents, local businesses, and decision makers by promoting and marketing the wide range of community assets in the Moose Mountains Region. This includes encouraging tourists to explore the unique scenic, historic, agricultural, recreational and cultural offerings off NH Routes 16 and 11 in the seven-town radius.

At this meeting, the committee discussed its new farmers market program, and logistics for its upcoming strategic planning initiative.

Learn more about EMM, and its social media persona The Moose, NH online.