Economic Development Investment For Three New Hampshire Community Landmark Projects Thanks to N.H. Preservation Alliance and Northern Border Regional Commission
Efforts to revitalize three historic buildings and their communities in Colebrook, Alstead and Lancaster, New Hampshire will get boost thanks to grants awarded this month by the N.H. Preservation Alliance. “While our families’ and communities’ health is of paramount importance right now,” said Jennifer Goodman, executive director of the N.H. Preservation Alliance, “we’re pleased to offer this good news of investment in our workforce and in anchors of our communities that will have wonderful short and long-term benefits.” The grant funds are made possible by an award to the N.H. Preservation Alliance along with the Preservation Trust of Vermont, Maine Preservation and the Preservation League of New York State from the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC).
The Mill Hollow Heritage Association in Alstead is utilizing funds from their grant to make structural improvements to Chase Mill as they work towards their goal of becoming a center of community activity.
The four states have evenly split the award of $1 million. In total, fifteen projects have been funded by this innovative collaboration. The organizations looked for projects that strengthen the communities they serve as well as their economies in areas that are suffering from the decline of the forest products industry. These grants support workforce development, child care and senior centers, community-supported enterprise and visitor destinations in historic locations including museums, theaters, a country store, a barn and a commercial block where the sugar-coated pill was invented.
Studies show that historic preservation investment supports small business and good-paying labor jobs, improves property values, keeps money circulating in local economies, catalyzes additional investment and increases community pride. The funds for this program, and all NBRC programs, are available thanks to the support of the Congressional Delegations of all four NBRC states: Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont. “We are deeply grateful for the support of New Hampshire Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, and New Hampshire Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster, as well as the Congressional Delegations of Maine, Vermont, and New York who helped to make NBRC funds available,” Goodman said.
The Parker J. Noyes Block in Lancaster is looking towards a bright future with much needed funds going towards the rehabilitation of this historic, and important, downtown landmark.
“I am pleased that the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance will receive funding from the Northern Border Regional Commission for historic preservation sites in Alstead, Colebrook and Lancaster,” Senator Hassan said. “These projects will help create jobs, strengthen workforce development, and even expand housing options. The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance plays an important role in strengthening economic and community development in towns across our state, and I will continue working with our New Hampshire Congressional Delegation to protect funding for important projects like these.”
In New Hampshire:
• The Mill Hollow Heritage Association will receive $78,622 for the installation of a septic system, plumbing, ADA access, improved parking and driveway, and finishing the second floor community space at the Chase Mill in Alstead.
• The Canaan (VT) School District will receive $100,000 to create a workforce development program at the 1870 Judge Ripley House and Carriage Barn in Colebrook, where students will be trained in hands-on carpentry, historic building renovation, and contractor-related business skills. The Preservation Trust of Vermont is a co-sponsor of this initiative.
• Sustainable Forest Futures Inc., a subsidiary of the Northern Forest Center, will receive $100,000 to complete exterior rehabilitation on the Parker J. Noyes Block in Lancaster, NH. The exterior renovation will help return the historic building to its place as a vital retail location and create new apartments for downtown living.
Both Chase Mill and the Parker J. Noyes building had been recognized by the Alliance’s Seven to Save program as historic buildings that deserved recognition and support.
Projects in the other three states are:
The rehabilitation and restoration of the Judge Ripley House and Carriage Barn in Colebrook will incorporate the hands-on training of high school students from Vermont and New Hampshire.
• Maine: Timelines Community, Inc. (Thorndike, ME); Maine Highlands Senior Center (Dover-Foxcroft, ME); Centre Theatre, Inc. (Dover-Foxcroft, ME); Association Culturelle Et Historique Du Mont Carmel (Lille, ME; Belfast Maskers (Belfast, ME)
• New York: Oneida Community Mansion House (Oneida, NY); Historic Saranac Lake (Saranac Lake, NY); Adirondack Experience (Blue Mountain Lake, NY); Whallonsburg Grange Hall, Inc. (Essex, NY)
• Vermont: Canaan, Vermont School District ( Canaan, VT) [grant co- supported by NH]; Town of Hardwick; Vermont Bridgewater Area Community Foundation, Inc. (Bridgewater Corners, VT); The Space on Main, Inc. (Bradford, VT)
The N.H. Preservation Alliance anticipates that these funds will be put to work very soon, and looks forward to sharing progress reports and celebrating ribbon-cuttings. “Not only will we celebrate progress in preserving these historic structures,” said Jennifer Goodman, executive director of the Alliance, “but we will also celebrate the jobs created and the new economic activity that will result from these investments.”