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SWRPC |
June 2010 |
| Commission Highlights |
Vol. 16 - No. 6 |
New Energy Assistance Program Launched
On June 28, 2010 Planning Commission staff attended the 2nd Annual Local Energy Solutions conference at the Grappone Center in Concord. Workshop sessions included energy planning tools and techniques and strategies for effective partnerships in local energy action. The NH Office of Energy and Planning and the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) Ventures announced the start of an ARRA funded program to provide energy technical assistance to NH municipalities and counties called Energy Technical Assistance Planning for NH Communities, or ETAP. CLF Ventures has subcontracted with the nine regional planning commissions and Peregrine Energy Group to provide technical assistance and outreach for the program. For more information, please contact Tara Germond of Commission staff or visit http://www.etapnhc.org.
Route 12 Transit/Paratransit Public Meetings Set for July 27 and August 10
The Planning Commission and its Route 12 Steering Committee completed the first phase of a study to look into the feasibility of expanding or improving coordination between existing transit or paratransit services on the Route 12 Corridor between Keene and Charlestown, NH and Putney and Springfield, VT. The study is an inter-regional and interstate effort guided by a steering committee of four NH and VT transit providers, neighboring regional planning commissions and others to meet the travel needs of residents in the corridor. The first phase of the study was an assessment of existing services, the existing market for public transportation and a documentation of the transportation needs of populations with the propensity to use public transportation living on the corridor. The Steering Committee has developed a list of service ideas and coordination opportunities whose feasibility are being assessed by the Study's consultant, Steadman Hill Consulting, Inc. Results of Steadman Hill's assessment will be presented at two public meetings scheduled as follows:
- July 27th at 5:30 p.m., Masonic Temple, 61 Westminster St., Bellows Falls, VT
- August 10th at 5:30 p.m., Silsby Library/Municipal Bldg., 226 Main St., Charlestown, NH
Commission staff is working with local transportation operators to provide transportation to the events. For more information, please contact J.B. Mack of Commission staff or visit the Route 12 Transit/Paratransit Project page at http://www.swrpc.org/trans/route12north.htm.
Community Development Block Grant Training Sessions
Planning Commission staff recently attended the Community Development Block Grant Application Writing and Grant Implementation workshops hosted by the NH Community Development Finance Authority in Concord, NH. The workshops covered housing and public facilities applications, economic development applications, federal grant requirements, environmental reviews, housing rehabilitation, grant administration and the new online Webgrants system. For more information about the workshops, please contact Rebeckah Bullock of Commission staff.
Travel Demand Management Group Awarded Grants for Fall Symposium
The Southwest Region Travel Demand Management Advocacy Working Group (TDM Group) was recently awarded a planning and convening grant from the Endowment for Health and an express grant from the NH Charitable Foundation to help support a Fall Symposium. The TDM Group has been working to establish a Monadnock Region Transportation Management Association (MRTMA) and this Symposium will be an opportunity to educate the community about the MRTMA mission and vision. In addition, it will provide a forum for the community to discuss how transportation plays a critical role in influencing the Region's overall health, well-being, environment, and quality of life. For more information, please contact J.B. Mack of Commission staff.
Request For Proposals - 2010 Land Conservation Grants
The Quabbin-to-Cardigan Partnership has announced a request for proposals for Land Conservation Grants. Municipalities, non-profit land trusts, and state agencies that have land conservation as a primary function that are located in the Quabbin-to-Cardigan region of western New Hampshire are eligible to apply. Grants of up to $50,000 will be awarded to fund transaction-related expenses on land conservation projects. The following Southwest Region towns are eligible for funding through this opportunity: Alstead, Antrim, Bennington, Chesterfield, Dublin, Fitzwilliam, Francestown, Gilsum, Greenfield, Hancock, Harrisville, Hinsdale, Jaffrey, Keene, Marlborough, Marlow, Nelson, New Ipswich, Peterborough, Richmond, Rindge, Roxbury, Sharon, Stoddard, Sullivan, Surry, Swanzey, Temple, Troy, Winchester, and Windsor. Completed applications are due Friday, September 3, 2010. Successful applicants will be notified in writing no later than September 30, 2010. For grant materials, please visit the "grants" page at http://www.q2cpartnership.org or contact Chris Wells at (603)224-9945.
Hazard Mitigation Plan Updates
The Planning Commission has received a grant to assist eight communities within the Southwest Region on updating their hazard mitigation plans. This grant will enable SWRPC to provide the technical assistance needed to help the towns of Alstead, Antrim, Fitzwilliam, Hancock, Roxbury, Walpole, Westmoreland, and Winchester in updating their plans. It is a requirement that hazard mitigation plans be updated and approved by FEMA every five years to remain eligible for certain grant programs. During June Commission staff attended a training session sponsored by FEMA and NH Homeland Security and Emergency Management to remain current on the latest requirements and mitigation strategies. For additional information, please contact Lisa Murphy of Commission staff.
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Southwest Region Planning Commission
20 Central Square, 2nd Floor, Keene, NH 03431
Ph: (603) 357-0557, Fax: (603) 357-7440
General E-mail: admin@swrpc.org
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