Grant Funds Available for Community Projects From N.H. Preservation Alliance Thanks to Northern Border Regional Commission
The N.H. Preservation Alliance, along with Maine Preservation, Preservation Trust of Vermont and the Preservation League of New York State are pleased to announce receipt of a $1,000,000 grant from the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) to help communities undertake locally-driven historic preservation projects with strong community and economic revitalization potential.
The statewide organizations will provide grants to “shovel-ready” non-profit and municipal rehabilitation and revitalization projects that have matching funds in hand. The Northern Heritage Economy Program application materials and deadlines will be available later this fall. In New Hampshire, projects in Carroll, Cheshire, Coos and Sullivan counties as well as qualifying municipalities in Belknap and Grafton counties are eligible. Eligibility requirements here. To request application information, interested parties can email projects@nhpreservation.org. “The need for this sort of funding is great, said Jennifer Goodman, executive director of the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance. “We are so pleased to have this investment to advance projects with catalytic community and economic development impacts,” she said.
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 award was made by the Regional Forest Economy Partnership, a new NBRC-led initiative, which was driven by a desire to focus on innovative initiatives to engage a regional approach in addressing the decline in forest-based economies. 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.
NBRC received a wide range of applications from new and established organizations, which were reviewed by an external Advisory Board, consisting of equal representation from all four states in the region, and Commission members. Applications were scored on a range of variables, including their regional scope, potential for transformative change, and ability to implement.
“The NBRC is excited to work with this year’s awardees to move an impressive slate of innovative projects forward,” said Executive Director Rich Grogan. He added: “There is not one simple solution to improving our forest-based economies in the region, but we feel that this collection of projects endorses the view that a diversity of well-researched approaches can collaboratively engage our most critical economic development issues.”