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NOTE FROM ANDY

WELCOME to the 31 new people who have joined the Granite Goodness community since our last newsletter.

Over here in Granite Goodness world we have some good news to share: we now have 100+ members of our Optimists Club!

Shout out to Jo Porter, Ande Lyons, and Andrea Folsom for joining last week and taking us over 100!

Come hang out at Treeline Outfitters on May 4 and listen to what’s optimistic in New England’s energy space for NH Energy Week.

Big thank you to the Partnership for Public Health, who gave me a great excuse to wear a cape last week when they asked me to come moderate their panel about the “superpowers” non-profits have : )

Now enjoy some good news!

GRANITE GREENERY: Sustainability & Nature

Shrewsbury, MA just won the largest federal recycling grant in Massachusetts history. A $2.7 million EPA award will launch townwide curbside composting, a new recycling facility, drop-off for hard-to-recycle items, and will divert up to 1,000 tons of waste a year from incineration. - Massachusetts Municipal Association

Maine is about to get a lot wilder: $4.6 million is flowing to ten wetland restoration projects, more than double last year's funding. The funds will help remove dams and rehabilitate Acadia National Park's largest freshwater wetland, strengthening ecosystems and improving flood resilience across the state. - The Maine Monitor

Rhode Island is protecting 174 acres of open space using $1.23 million in voter-approved Green Bond grants, covering four projects from forestland in Glocester to a shoreline property overlooking Mount Hope Bay in Tiverton. This same program has protected more than 13,000 acres since 1985. - RI DEM

GRANITE GRIT: Building & Infrastructure

Vermont is creating 10 pre-approved home designs that builders can fast-track through local permitting for free, making it the first state in the country to do so. The "802 Homes" program is being piloted in Essex Junction, Hartford, and Manchester, with the full catalog expected by end of year. - VTDigger

Braintree is turning a long-vacant 30-acre industrial site into 752 apartments less than a mile from the Red Line, one of the largest housing developments on Boston's South Shore in years and a model for how Massachusetts is converting industrial relics into housing. - Boston Globe

Connecticut is upgrading the freight rail network that helps keep its economy running, repairing bridges over the Connecticut River, modernizing grade crossings, and upgrading track for heavier freight cars across six railroads statewide. The work is backed by $20m in state grants + $4m in private railroad investment. - CT DOT

GRANITE GROWTH: Economics & Opportunity

The 144 households of Cotton Farm Village in New Hampshire just became co-owners of their manufactured-home park, joining a network of 152 resident-owned communities across the state. The cooperative, financed through the NH Community Loan Fund, gives residents control over their own rents, rules, and future. - NH Community Loan Fund

Farmington, Maine just got its first food co-op, where 250 community members have already bought $150 lifetime memberships to co-own a local organic market on Front Street. Members get monthly discounts, a share of yearly revenue, and a vote on how the business is run. - WMTW News

Vermont farmer Charlie Watts just launched a seed company built to solve a problem every New England gardener has: a growing season too short for half the things worth growing. Homecoming Seeds in Northfield sells only open-pollinated varieties adapted to cold, fast-maturing conditions, grown on Watts’ own farm or contracted locally. They ship nationwide! - Seven Days

GRANITE GADGETS: Science & Technology

Massachusetts is positioning itself as the global capital of climate tech, backed by $1 billion in state support. Greentown Labs in Somerville sits at the center of the ecosystem, incubating over 100 startups working on everything from iron batteries to biodegradable potato plastic. - WBUR

Researchers at the University of New Hampshire just won $600,000 to make water data accessible to anyone who needs it, building an open-source platform that lets scientists run water cycle simulations without a supercomputer. Access to the data will help enhance practices for drinking water protection, agriculture, and more. - UNH

UConn researchers are using controlled burns to help New England prepare for a future with more wildfires, studying how soil microbes recover after fires and testing how to restore forest health faster. The work aims to help reshape wildfire management across the region. - UConn

GRANITE GOODS: Institutions & Community

A donated building in Portland's Bayside neighborhood is becoming a nonprofit-owned community center, hosting organizations focused on housing, welcoming immigrants, music, and food access. The landowner sees it as a replicable model for community-driven development across the city. - Portland Press Herald

New Hampshire is planning its first fully ADA-accessible public beach on Blaisdell Lake in Sutton, anchoring a new outdoor learning and conservation destination that will bring programming, accessibility, and economic activity to the Kearsarge region. - Concord Insider

The University of Rhode Island launched a Community News Lab sending student journalists into Rhode Island towns that no longer have local coverage, with their stories appearing in real newspapers across the state. The program is part of a nationwide movement of universities stepping in to fill news deserts, with 172 institutions now publishing over 11,000 student-reported stories. - URI Magazine

Partner Spotlight!

BIG THANK YOU to our Community Partners Green Wave Electric Vehicles and Resilient Buildings Group (RBG) for your support of Granite Goodness.

That’s it for this edition of the Good News in New England Newsletter!1 If you’d like to support Granite Goodness, consider joining our Optimists Club. Learn more about the people behind these stories on our podcast.

Hungry for good news beyond the borders of New England? Check out our very own Optimists Club newsletter or our friends at Fix The News and The Progress Network.

Thanks for reading!

-Andy

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NOTE FROM ANDY

Hello everyone! Welcome to the 216 new people who have joined the Granite Goodness community since our last newsletter and to Marisa Rafal, Anna Wells, and Talia Wujtewicz for joining our Optimists Club!

Don’t miss our latest podcast episode featuring Sam Evans Brown from Clean Energy NH : )

If you’re around come join us May 4 for a free casual live podcast + drinks at Treeline Outfitters in Portsmouth, featuring panelists from Clean Energy NH, Resilient Buildings Group, and the Community Power Coalition of NH.

Now enjoy some good news!

GRANITE GREENERY: Sustainability & Nature

Revolution Wind, New England’s first major offshore wind project, has begun delivering electricity to the regional grid. The 65-turbine project off the Connecticut coast will generate enough power for 350,000 homes, projected to save ratepayers $500 million a year on energy costs. - Rhode Island Current

All six New England governors issued a bipartisan commitment to explore advanced nuclear energy, the first time the region has united behind the technology, as ISO New England projects regional electricity demand will grow more than 40% over the next two decades. - Mass.gov

New Hampshire is removing a century-old dam in Goffstown, unlocking nearly 70 miles of the Piscataquog River for the first time in decades and restoring the natural flow of water, sediment, and wildlife. - Vermont Public / NHPR

GRANITE GRIT: Building & Infrastructure

Massachusetts is betting that the best way to prepare for climate change is to let towns figure it out themselves, putting $3 million behind the idea through Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness grants going to more than 30 communities for wetland restoration, infrastructure upgrades, and tree planting. - Massachusetts Municipal Association

Maine has secured federal approval to bring high-speed internet to more than 22,000 homes and businesses, one of the largest broadband expansions in state history, closing the digital divide in rural communities across the state. - Sunrise County Economic Council

Vermont’s legislature unanimously approved an expansion of its “10% in VT” housing fund, which has already financed more than 1,700 homes across the state using low-interest loans to offset borrowing costs that would otherwise kill housing projects. - Vermont Business Magazine

GRANITE GROWTH: Economics & Opportunity

Three years in, Nashua’s downtown performing arts center is exceeding expectations, with restaurants reporting significant revenue increases, parking revenue climbing, and $3.6 million in regional economic impact generated. - Nashua Ink Link

Maine just deployed $25 million across 23 companies and research institutions, from seafood processors in Downeast Maine to life sciences labs on the Midcoast, drawing 113 proposals requesting $127 million and projected to create or preserve nearly 4,000 jobs. - Maine.gov

Vermont’s economic development authority just invested $13.8 million into a cross-section of small businesses: a community-owned grocery in St. Johnsbury, a grain center in Ferrisburgh, a fitness center in flood-damaged Montpelier, and a donut shop in Rutland. - Vermont Business Magazine

GRANITE GADGETS: Science & Technology

Maine researchers have engineered a zebrafish (dubbed the “atrofish”) that can reproduce decades of age-related muscle decline in just days, dramatically accelerating the search for treatments for sarcopenia, the muscle loss condition affecting millions of older adults. - MDI Biological Laboratory

UConn and Yale are bidding for $160 million to make Connecticut the country’s quantum computing capital, backed by $61 million the state has already committed through a public-private partnership called QuantumCT. - UConn Today

MIT and two Boston biotechs won federal awards to develop a sensor that monitors your health through your tears in real time, and drugs that repair damaged lymphatic vessels rather than just managing symptoms. Massachusetts has now secured more than $330 million in ARPA-H funding since the agency launched. - Mass.gov

GRANITE GOODS: Institutions & Community

Rhode Island has cut chronic absenteeism by 12 percentage points since 2022, adding 3.7 million hours of learning back to students, and now leads all of New England in post-pandemic academic recovery. - RI Public Expenditure Council

Boston Public Schools won a national award for installing 4,000+ air quality sensors across more than 100 schools, making it one of only five districts in the country recognized for indoor air quality leadership. - Boston Public Schools

New Hampshire’s Farm Future Fund is back for its seventh year, offering $100,000 to help farms conserve land and strengthen their business viability, having already protected 2,402 acres and supported 22 farms statewide. - Morning Ag Clips

Partner Spotlight!

BIG THANK YOU to our Community Partners Green Wave Electric Vehicles and Resilient Buildings Group (RBG) for your support of Granite Goodness.

Come join us May 4 at Treeline Outfitters for a free live podcast featuring some of our friends from RBG + the Community Power Coalition of NH + Clean Energy NH.

That’s it for this edition of the Good News in New England Newsletter!1 If you’d like to support Granite Goodness, consider joining our Optimists Club.

Learn more about the people behind these stories on our podcast and social media.

Hungry for good news beyond the borders of New England? Check out our very own Optimists Club newsletter or our friends at Fix The News and The Progress Network.

Please reach out to granitegoodness@gmail.com with sponsor or partner inquiries.

Thanks for reading!

-Andy

We are also joined briefly by Clean Energy New Hampshire’s Communications Coordinator (and my friend!) Kyana Burgess.

Learn more about their work at cleanenergynh.org

Granite Goodness is made possible by the generous support of our Community Partners, big thank you to Resilient Buildings Group and Green Wave Electric Vehicles.

Join us May 4 for a free live panel at Treeline Outfitters for NH Energy Week.

Returning to you here with another edition of our Optimists Club newsletter.

We had a great night on Friday at our second live show. Official pictures to come but here are a couple previews!

A bunch of our Optimists Club members joined us there! Thank you to Laura Cleminson, Ryan + Rae Lambert, Brittany Carr, Anna Paddock, Matt Doubleday, Nikki Schultz, Andrea Martin, and Jesse Lore (who also was our generous show sponsor via Green Wave Electric Vehicles)

GOOD NEWS

I am often asked how I can be so optimistic. In this issue, I’ll tell you how.

Granite Goodness is just one among many organizations devoted to telling optimistic stories. There is a wide and growing network devoted to this mission, and they are where I got the idea to bring this concept to New England.

Even in the short time I’ve been doing this (20 months) I have also observed a shift amongst major media outlets. More and more, they are investing resources into optimistic solutions journalism.

I thought it would make for a fun piece to compile all of my favorite sources together. A curation of good news curators!

I also hope this list may serve to show fellow media people that solutions journalism is not just a niche thing, but increasingly seen as a savvy investment by traditional media outlets.

We’ll share some of our favorite good news stories lately at the bottom for Optimists Club members.

MY TOP PICKS

(est. 2014)

Based out of Australia, this team is “the world’s leading solutions journalism newsletter” boasting ~80,000 subscribers across 195 countries. I would agree with that assessment. These people are the true originals, and have been at it for over 10 years. They were formerly known as Future Crunch, and I have a vintage t-shirt to prove it.

When I need to explain people what I’m doing and why, I literally pull up their website, and simply say “I am trying to do this, but for New England.”

Their testimonials page is also a work of art. It’s like they literally just published every nice thing anyone’s ever said about them. The page is enormous and feels so human. My dream is to style my Optimists Club page after it— impractically large and positive.

(TPN, est. 2020)

Headquartered at the New America Foundation, this organization was founded during the pandemic. They are the leading convening organization for optimistic / progress oriented storytelling, and also produce a ton of excellent original content themselves. Their podcast “What Could Go Right” is my personal favorite. Granite Goodness is proud to be an official member of The Progress Network. The rest of their members are far more notable than myself, though I never hear Scott Galloway talk about being in TPN. I wish he did!

Their founder also writes an excellent substack . My favorite thing about Zachary is that in the beginning of every podcast episode, he rephrases the mission statement of TPN (“An idea movement that speaks to a better future in a world dominated by voices that suggest a worse one”) in a completely original way, off the top of his head. It’s wildly impressive.

Our World in Data (est. 2014)

This organization is less on the journalistic side of progress and more on the data side. In fact I would just say that they are the data side. Their website is like a modern library of Alexandria. You can imagine Aristotle weeping if he were able to see this information— accurate data about all the worlds biggest problems, neatly categorized and visualized, free to use for anyone, anywhere, all the time, everywhere, forever.

This website and org are the spiritual grandchild of Hans Rosling’s infamous TED talk, where for the first time in the internet era, a wide audience was optimistically educated about the improving state of the world (imagine how happy I was getting to emcee TEDx Portsmouth last year! One of the top TEDx events in the world!)

My favorite quote, which I often cite as how to reconcile an awareness of suffering with the desire to improve the world, comes from them.

The world is awful. The world is much better. The world can be much better.

They also have a page devoted specifically to optimism.

HONORABLE MENTION

(est. 2024)

These guys are more tech focused, but tell amazing stories nonetheless. The name comes from Matt Ridley’s wonderful book, The Rational Optimist. Their platform has grown wildly fast, and they happen to also be incredibly nice.

(est. 2013)

A project of the Cato Institute, their newsletter Doomslayer is an excellent regular curation of progress stories around the globe. Their podcast and work mostly take a economics-centered point of view, and I find Marian Tupy wonderful to listen to on their podcast. Chelsea Follett, their managing editor, also runs the fantastic substack .

(est. 2022)

The personal substack of Hannah Ritchie, Deputy Editor at Our World in Data, where she breaks down almost every environmental issue imaginable in an entertaining and data-backed way. She is 33 years old and also the author of the incredible book Not the End of the World.

(est. 2017, becoming a non-profit in 2021)

This organization is devoted to studying and advancing the progress movement, in particular accelerating the careers of progress researchers. I view them as a kind of academic companion to the Progress Network (who, to their great credit, contains almost all of these organizations within their network). They run the world’s premier progress conference, just recently established in 2024. Funny story, I was almost hired to help organize this conference! The team there is great.

Their founder, Jason Crawford, is based in Boston. I hope to get him on the podcast sometime!

TRADITIONAL MEDIA + SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM

Here is a curation of more established media outlets and some of their component solutions journalism work I’ve come across:

Reasonably Optimistic from the Washington Post (est. 2025)

Future Perfect from Vox (est. 2018)

50 States, 50 Fixes from the New York Times (est. 2025)

The Solutionaries from Time Magazine (est. 2025)

An Optimists Guide to the Planet from Bloomberg (est. 2024)

How We Fix This from Spotify (est. 2024)

People Fixing the World from BBC (est. 2016)

There are probably tons more I haven’t even heard of.

OTHER GREAT RESOURCES WORTH SHARING

Reasons to be Cheerful

Blue Sky Podcast

The Goodness Exchange (run by my friend Lynda Ulrich!)

Positive News Magazine

Cleo Abram (a massively popular content creator who explicitly covers tech optimism)

Pessimists Archive

Good Good Good

(Earth Hope)

(Positive Sum)

Warp News

Institute for Progress

There is even a subreddit for optimistic data content, r/optimistsunite, which grew from 0 to more than 350,000 members in two years.

There are many more I could list here. Maybe I’ll edit this post sometime to also include books. But for anyone seeking out where to find more optimistic information and content about people making the world better, this list is a pretty good place to start!

Below here are my top good news stories from around the world lately, for Optimists Club members only!

ANDY’S TOP GLOBAL GOOD NEWS LATELY:

Read more

Tim focuses on helping nonprofits grow, connect, and operate more effectively. In this conversation, we discuss common issues non-profits face, and what led to our new partnership, the Earnest Impact Lab

Notes:

This episode was sponsored by our friends at Green Wave Electric Vehicles, who just opened their second location in Salem, MA!

Get your tickets here for our next Granite Goodness live show! March 27 at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth, NH.

*In this episode, I (Andy) referenced a couple of my favorite progress trends. In one of them I said that “deforestation in the Amazon had basically gone to zero”. I was thinking of this story from Mongabay, showing that Amazon deforestation is approaching an all time low. Not technically zero, but wanted to back up and clarify that statement!

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NOTE FROM ANDY

Hello everyone! Welcome to the 244 new people who have joined the Granite Goodness community since our last newsletter, and to Shelby Miuzzo, Kaelli Gehrung, and Chad Moore for joining our Optimists Club!

Come join us Tuesday March 17 for a community gathering at Treeline Outfitters in Portsmouth, NH with our friends at Give and Gather. Co-organizer Andrea and I made a quick video about it.

Coming up as well on March 27 is our rescheduled LIVE SHOW at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth, NH. We will be opened by friends of Granite Goodness SNEAKY MILES and joined by other excellent local pods. Gene and Troy cannot make the rescheduled date, so we will instead be joined by Alison Kinsey of Real Time Creator and Steve Ivo of Dr. Beewell — tickets here!

I recently got interviewed on Dr. Beewell, so check that out if you want a deep dive into Granite Goodness. Big thanks as well to my friend Aimee Terravechia and NH Culture Review for their recent feature of our work. If you’re curious, we compile all the fun stuff Granite Goodness is up to on our media page. It’s a fun timeline!

Now enjoy some good news!

GRANITE GREENERY: Sustainability & Nature

Rhode Island towns pilot curbside composting to cut waste and emissions

Three Rhode Island communities have launched the state’s first municipal curbside composting programs, helping divert tons of waste from landfills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. - Governing

Geothermal network expands in Massachusetts

An $8.6 million federal grant will help double the size of a pioneering geothermal heating and cooling network in Framingham, bringing efficient underground energy to more homes and businesses. - Canary Media

Local fund helps electrify homes in New Hampshire

A community program in the Monadnock Region has raised more than $350,000 to help residents install heat pumps, solar panels, and other clean energy upgrades. The locally funded effort aims to help dozens of households cut energy costs and reduce emissions while transitioning homes away from fossil fuels. - NHPR

GRANITE GRIT: Building & Infrastructure

Rhode Island launches $20 million push for entry-level homeownership

Rhode Island is launching a $20 million initiative to accelerate the construction of affordable starter homes and expand homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents. Funds will support developers building smaller, lower-cost homes while helping more Rhode Islanders buy their first home. - RI.gov

Vermont invests $100 million in housing, infrastructure, and workforce programs

More than $100 million in federal funding will support affordable housing, drinking water and wastewater upgrades, workforce training programs, flood resilience projects, and expanded dental care services across Vermont. - VTDigger

UNH expands ocean mapping research center

The University of New Hampshire has broken ground on a new 70,500-square-foot Ocean Mapping Center of Excellence that will support cutting-edge seafloor research, workforce training, and collaborations with ocean technology companies. - University of New Hampshire

GRANITE GROWTH: Economics & Opportunity

Mt. Washington Valley becomes hub for independent ski innovation1

Black Mountain in Jackson, New Hampshire will remain independently owned as Indy Pass founder Erik Mogensen consolidates Indy Pass and ski-industry tech firm Entabeni Systems at the mountain. The historic ski area will serve as a testing ground for new technology, business models, and ideas aimed at helping independent ski resorts thrive, while bringing new jobs and investment to the Mount Washington Valley. - NHPR

Vermont expands training program for women in the trades

A workforce program in Vermont is expanding to four locations in 2026 to train women and gender-expansive residents for careers in construction. The free Trailblazers program provides hands-on training and paid internships to help more people enter high-demand skilled trades. - Construction Owners

Western Massachusetts invests in farmland protection

Three regional planning agencies in western Massachusetts are launching a new effort to help towns preserve farmland and support local farmers. Backed by a $268,000 state grant, the initiative will develop planning tools and partnerships to protect agricultural land. - Greenfield Recorder

GRANITE GADGETS: Science & Technology

UConn research aims to slow biological aging

A national research effort involving the University of Connecticut is testing whether a drug originally developed for HIV treatment could reduce inflammation linked to aging. The $22 million project aims to help older adults stay healthier, stronger, and mentally sharp as they age. - University of Connecticut

Maine researchers develop mushroom-based alternative to plastic packaging

Researchers at the University of Maine have created a biodegradable food packaging material made from mushroom mycelium and wood fibers that can resist water and oil like plastic. The new material could provide a sustainable alternative to traditional food packaging while breaking down naturally after use. - University of Maine

MIT researchers find new way to make protein medicines cheaper

MIT scientists have developed an innovative method that helps yeast produce important medicines more efficiently, which could lower the cost of making vaccines, hormones, and other lifesaving drugs. - MIT

GRANITE GOODS: Institutions & Community

Connecticut expands water bill assistance for low-income households

The South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority has expanded its financial assistance program, increasing grant amounts and widening eligibility so more families can receive help paying their water bills. Qualifying households can now receive up to $300 per year through the program. - CT Insider

Maine communities invest opioid settlement funds in recovery and prevention

Local governments across Maine spent $3 million from opioid settlement funds last year to support addiction treatment in jails, behavioral health workers, recovery centers, youth prevention programs, and outreach services. The investments are helping expand treatment access and strengthen community-based responses to the opioid crisis. - Maine Monitor

New Hampshire strengthens school safety with funding and reforms

New Hampshire has implemented 47 of 59 recommendations from the bipartisan 2018 School Safety Preparedness Task Force and awarded $8 million in SAFE grants to fund security upgrades and preparedness projects in schools. The state has also completed 1,300+ school safety assessments and reached 99% compliance with required emergency operations plans. - Rochester Post

Partner Spotlight!

Thanks to our Community Partner, Green Wave Electric Vehicles, for helping support Granite Goodness!

Green Wave founder Jesse Lore has been an enthusiastic and early believer in Granite Goodness. I chatted with him on the podcast last year and it remains one of my favorite convos.

As an EV owner who lives in rural New England, I can’t speak positively enough about my experience. Yesterday I did the math on how much electrifying my car has likely saved me (I drove ~29k miles in 2025, 12k of those for Granite Goodness purposes) and it was easily $1,400 - $1,600 annually in offset gas + maintenance costs (excluding how much my solar panels also saved me in electricity). Plus, I can bring my dogs anywhere I like and they can stay safe and comfortable in a climate controlled environment.

Big congrats to Jesse and the Green Wave team for opening a second location in Salem, Massachusetts. If you’re around, come join us for the opening celebration there on April 2 (tentative date!).

That’s it for this edition of the Good News in New England Newsletter!2 If you’d like to support Granite Goodness, consider joining our Optimists Club.

Learn more about the people behind these stories on our podcast and social media.

Hungry for good news beyond the borders of New England? Check out our very own Optimists Club newsletter or our friends at Fix The News and The Progress Network.

Please reach out to granitegoodness@gmail.com with sponsor or partner inquiries.

Thanks for reading!

-Andy

Writing to share that our next live show— originally scheduled for tomorrow evening February 20 at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth, NH, is being postponed to March 27 due to weather.

To all our new subscribers— welcome and thank you! Typically, I don’t write about schedule changes for every event, but this is a last minute change that the community should know about.

Next week, if anyone is local and interested in environmentalism, come join us at Treeline Outfitters in Portsmouth on Wednesday evening 2/25. I help run a casual meetup group for anyone working in / interested in environmental or sustainability careers. We call it “Sustainabilibrews”. Here is the Linkedin group if interested. We will also be hearing from one of our Community Partners, Resilient Buildings Group, who specialize in energy efficiency!

Connect with me on Linkedin if you have any ?s.

Here are some good news hits to make up for me emailing so late:

From around the world, deforestation of the Amazon is on track toward its lowest ever recorded level.

From New England, last year Massachusetts exceeded their heat pump installation goal.

Stay warm tomorrow and see you next week with our regular good news and some fresh interviews.

-Andy

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NOTE FROM ANDY

Hello everyone! Welcome to the 41 new humans who have joined the Granite Goodness community this past week, and to Alexander Sterling for joining our Optimists Club!

THIS FRIDAY 2/20 is our next LIVE SHOW at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth, NH. We will be opened by local legends SNEAKY MILES and joined by some cool local podcasts. Get your tickets here!

Also save the date for a community meetup on March 17 with our friends from Give and Gather.

Partner Spotlight!

THANK YOU to our Community Partner, Resilient Buildings Group (RBG), for helping support Granite Goodness!

Resilient Buildings Group helps expand high-performance, energy-efficient buildings across New England. This work often goes unnoticed, but it’s one of the most effective ways to reduce emissions and lower costs. While large energy projects get all the attention, improving building performance delivers real impact today instead of in 10 years.

I know many of the people behind RBG personally, and their mission closely reflects the values behind Granite Goodness. We share a deep zest for the people making our corner of the world better and brighter!

With support from partners like RBG, Granite Goodness keeps growing.

Now enjoy some good news!

GRANITE GREENERY: Sustainability & Nature

Penobscot Nation regains 1,700 acres of ancestral Maine forest

The Penobscot Nation will regain 1,700 acres of forest and wetlands in central Maine, restoring access to ancestral lands and strengthening tribal stewardship of wildlife, water, and forests. The transfer is part of a broader effort to return tens of thousands of acres to tribal care across the state. - Tribal Business News

Connecticut launches landmark geothermal network in New Haven

New Haven has begun building Connecticut’s first networked geothermal system, delivering clean, low-emission heating and cooling to Union Station and nearly 1,000 public housing units. The effort advances the city’s goal of fully decarbonizing municipal buildings by 2030. - Canary Media

230 acres conserved atop NH’s Mount Kearsarge for future generations

NH’s Forest Society has permanently protected 230 acres of high-elevation forest at Mount Kearsarge, securing some of the last private inholdings within the state forest. The conservation strengthens a 9,500-acre protected corridor and prevents future private development on the summit. - Society for the Protection of NH Forests

GRANITE GRIT: Building & Infrastructure

MBTA Communities law unlocks nearly 7,000 new homes across Massachusetts

A recent report showed the laws’s zoning reforms have enabled nearly 7,000 new housing units across 34 Massachusetts communities, allowing projects that previously could not be built. The law has been especially effective at encouraging both housing near transit and more multi-family units. - WBUR

$4.5B plan will upgrade roads, bridges, and transit in Maine

MaineDOT has unveiled a $4.5 billion, three-year plan to complete nearly 2,800 transportation projects, including paving more than 3,000 miles of roads and repairing or replacing 235 bridges. The investments will also expand transit, strengthen ports and rail, and improve access to economic hubs statewide. - Mainebiz

Vermont construction boom continues

Construction activity remains strong across Vermont, with steady homebuilding, infrastructure upgrades, and major projects underway statewide. A growing pipeline of housing, manufacturing, and community investments is helping expand supply and support long-term economic growth. - Vermont Biz

GRANITE GROWTH: Economics & Opportunity

Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont break 5% growth in Q4 2025

Connecticut’s economy grew 5.6% in the third quarter of 2025, one of the fastest rates in the nation, with New Hampshire (5.5%) and Vermont (5%) also posting strong gains. Rhode Island (4.4%), Maine (3.8%), and Massachusetts (3.3%) all saw continued growth, showing broad economic momentum across New England. - Westfair Online

Maine’s workforce grows as broadband access rapidly expands

Maine’s labor force has grown beyond pre-pandemic levels to 705,000 workers, reflecting strong economic momentum across the state. At the same time, high-speed broadband access has expanded from 13% to 50% of the state in just three years. - Maine Public

Adaptive sports fuel $10.3M boost to Vermont’s economy

A recent report showed that adaptive ski & sports generates more than $10.3 million each year for VT by helping people with disabilities participate in skiing, cycling, paddling, and other outdoor activities across the state. - Mountain Times

GRANITE GADGETS: Science & Technology

Dartmouth engineers create implant that helps skull regrow naturally

Dartmouth researchers have developed a neural implant that encourages the skull to regrow around it, allowing safer, longer-term access to the brain without metal plates or repeat surgeries. The breakthrough could improve treatments for conditions like Parkinson’s, epilepsy, and brain injuries. - Dartmouth College

$4.5M investment accelerates Rhode Island’s biotech growth

Eight life science companies expanding in Rhode Island were awarded $4.5 million, advancing breakthroughs in cancer, genetic medicine, and medical technology. The funding strengthens Rhode Island’s emergence as a growing hub for biotech innovation and scientific leadership. - RI Life Sciences Hub

University of Connecticut helps advance breakthrough treatment for kidney disease

UConn Health is participating in a clinical trial testing a first-of-its-kind therapy that directly targets the root cause of IgA nephropathy, the world’s most common kidney inflammation. Initial results show treatment can quickly remove harmful proteins, offering hope for protecting kidney function and improving patients’ lives. - UConn

GRANITE GOODS: Institutions & Community

$750K Rhode Island effort turns food waste into meals

A new $750,000 partnership will redirect surplus food from restaurants, schools, and businesses to people who need it while expanding composting statewide. The program also trains residents to lead food waste and climate solutions in their own communities. - Eco RI News

Vermont’s child care law expands access and strengthens workforce

Vermont’s landmark child care law has expanded financial assistance to nearly 12,000 children, helping families afford care and stay in the workforce. The investment has also stabilized child care providers and strengthened Vermont’s economy. - Waterbury Roundabout

Resident owned communities expand in NH

Residents of Cotton Farm Village in New Hampshire successfully purchased their community, becoming the state’s 152nd resident-owned cooperative. The change puts land ownership in residents’ hands, giving more than 140 households control over rent, maintenance, and long-term management. - NHCLF

That’s it for this edition of the Good News in New England Newsletter! If you’d like to support Granite Goodness, consider joining our Optimists Club.

We also post on Instagram, Linkedin, and Facebook. Learn about the people behind these stories on our podcast. You can customize what you receive from us here.

All postard images are sourced from the Tichnor Brothers Collection at the Boston Public Library, licensed under CCO 1.0.

Hungry for good news beyond the borders of New England? Check out our friends at , , or our Optimists Club newsletter.

If you are interested in sponsoring this newsletter or partnering with us, please reach out at hello@granitegoodness.com. Thanks for reading!

-Andy

Don’t want to receive this newsletter? Adjust your preferences here.

NOTE FROM ANDY

Hello everyone! Welcome to the 57 new people who have joined the Granite Goodness community this past week, and to the 4 new members of our Optimists Club, Megan Murray, Adriana Torres, Nikki Shults, and Keith Sandbloom.

Save the date for a community meetup on March 17 with our friends from Give and Gather.

If you haven’t gotten tickets yet for our upcoming live show on Fri 2/20, now is the time! Come hang out with us and some of our other favorite local podcasts at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth, NH. Tickets here!

Partner Spotlight!

This week we’re again celebrating our Community Partner, Resilient Buildings Group (RBG).

RBG works to expand the number and quality of high performance, energy efficient buildings across New England. This kind of work often stays out of the spotlight, even though it is one of the most effective and highest return ways to reduce emissions and lower costs. While large infrastructure projects and new energy systems tend to grab attention, improving how buildings actually perform delivers real impact today.

I know many of the people behind RBG personally, and their values align closely with Granite Goodness. We both care deeply about the organizations and people doing the quiet work of progress.

Thanks to the support of our partners like RBG, Granite Goodness continues to grow!

Now enjoy some good news.

GRANITE GREENERY: Sustainability & Nature

Massachusetts tests a new way to cut grid costs

Massachusetts is piloting a utility marketplace that uses customer owned batteries, EV chargers, and smart devices to ease grid strain at peak times. By relying on flexible clean energy instead of costly infrastructure upgrades, the program aims to lower electricity bills and modernize the grid faster. - Canary Media

Vermont secures major funding to protect land and biodiversity

The Nature Conservancy has awarded $500,000 to conserve more than 1,400 acres across seven sites in Vermont. The funding will help protect forests, support public access where possible, and advance the state’s goal of conserving 30 percent of its land by 2030. - Nature Conservancy

Antioch University boosts environmental education with major gift

Antioch University New England has received a $1.5 million gift to expand Environmental Studies scholarships and launch a new conservation fund at Glover’s Ledge. The investment supports hands on learning, student access, and long term stewardship of a living research landscape. - Antioch University

GRANITE GRIT: Building & Infrastructure

NH housing construction hits 20 year high

New Hampshire built more housing in 2025 than in any year in the past two decades, with more than 5,800 new units permitted statewide. The growth, driven in part by increased multi family development and supportive state policies, signals strong momentum toward expanding housing options across the state. - NHPR

Rhode Island investing in waterways, safety, and ocean innovation

Rhode Island is set to receive nearly $8 million in federal funding to clean up waterways, modernize public safety systems, and invest in RI SmartBay’s undersea monitoring technology. The projects will deliver real time ocean data, strengthen coastal research, and help grow RI’s blue economy. - Congressman Gabe Amo

Maine unveils powerful new tool to accelerate housing

Maine has launched a statewide housing dashboard that puts real time building data in one public place. The new tool sharpens accountability and coordination, helping communities move faster on expanding housing statewide. - News Center Maine

GRANITE GROWTH: Economics & Opportunity

Maine pioneers remote work program that links rehabilitation and restitution

Maine is leading a new approach to corrections by allowing eligible inmates to work real remote jobs while incarcerated. The program builds skills, provides purpose, and directs a share of earnings to victim restitution, showing how meaningful work can support accountability and successful reentry. - News Center Maine

50 year analysis shows New England state income risen faster than national average

Since 1970, every New England state has seen inflation adjusted household incomes grow faster than the national average, with New Hampshire up 62 percent and Massachusetts up nearly 48 percent. Massachusetts now ranks first in the nation for median income, while New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island all sit comfortably in the top 15, showing decades of steady gains across the region. - Urban Institute

Southwestern Vermont launches new foundation to invest in regional growth

The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce has launched a new charitable foundation with more than $150,000 already committed to support workforce development, small businesses, leadership, and community investment. - Bennington Banner

GRANITE GADGETS: Science & Technology

UConn lands NSF grant to strengthen extreme weather preparedness

A UConn based resilience project has secured more than $250,000 from the National Science Foundation to help communities across the Northeast better prepare for severe weather. Led by the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation, the effort will transform research into planning tools that reduce risk and protect communities. - The Daily Campus

Rhode Island lays out bold plan to lead on AI

Rhode Island has unveiled a new statewide AI roadmap that pairs innovation with guardrails. The plan focuses on workforce training and pilots in government, positioning the state to harness AI’s benefits while managing risk. - Route Fifty

UMass Amherst scores $3.5M to supercharge life science innovation

UMass Amherst has landed more than $3.5 million in state funding to power advanced research and next generation medical manufacturing. The grants back cutting edge tools that could transform how diseases are studied, treated, and translated from lab to clinic. - Western Mass News

GRANITE GOODS: Institutions & Community

Maine sees third straight year of progress on overdose deaths

Drug overdose deaths in Maine fell for the third year in a row, dropping 20 percent in 2025 to the lowest level since 2019. State officials credit widespread naloxone access, targeted outreach, and evidence based response efforts for the continued improvement. - Maine Public

Connecticut breaks records for generosity

A new study ranks Connecticut among the top charitable states in the region and in the top quarter nationwide. High levels of volunteering, donations, and community service show a strong culture of giving, even as residents contribute both money and time to support their neighbors. - CT Insider

NH expands maternal care with doula certification

New Hampshire has launched a new state certification for doulas, making their services eligible for Medicaid reimbursement. The change expands access to emotional, physical, and postpartum support for families while strengthening maternal and infant health statewide. - NHPR

That’s it for this edition of the Good News in New England Newsletter! If you’d like to support Granite Goodness, consider joining our Optimists Club.

We also post on Instagram, Linkedin, and Facebook. Learn about the people behind these stories on our podcast. You can customize what you receive from us here.

All postard images are sourced from the Tichnor Brothers Collection at the Boston Public Library, licensed under CCO 1.0.

Hungry for good news beyond the borders of New England? Check out our friends at , , or our Optimists Club newsletter.

If you are interested in sponsoring this newsletter or partnering with us, please reach out at hello@granitegoodness.com. Thanks for reading!

-Andy

I’m excited to announce a new partnership for Granite Goodness. I’ll be working alongside my friend Tim Smith-Gerding, founder of Blackbird Collective, to launch something we’ve been thinking hard about for a while.

Between the two of us, we talk to a lot of people in the nonprofit world. And there’s a phrase we’ve both been hearing again and again lately: “The ground is shifting beneath our feet.”

Funding sources are changing. Long-standing assumptions are being questioned. And many organizations doing deeply important work are feeling real uncertainty about what comes next.

Rather than wringing our hands, Tim and I asked a simple question: What would actually help nonprofits not just weather this moment, but come out stronger on the other side?

Our answer?

The Earnest Impact Lab.

Details below. If you know nonprofit leaders who might benefit from this, please consider sharing. Let us help tell your story!

We also covered the Earnest Impact Lab on Tim’s Granite Goodness podcast episode:

Earnest Impact Lab 2026

Call for Applications & Overview

We are now accepting participants for the inaugural Earnest Impact Lab for NH-based nonprofits and fiscally sponsored projects. This ten-week program will help impact leaders reclaim balance, refresh their strategies, and tell their stories in a more compelling manner, all leading up to NH Gives and other future opportunities.

Granite Goodness and Blackbird Collective are here to provide space, support, and resources so you can effectively tell your stories and rally communities at a very important moment in time.

All nonprofits have access to participate in NH Gives and other campaigns. However, organizations with smaller operating budgets and limited communications capacity struggle to maximize this opportunity; they are often left disappointed with outcomes. While these campaigns inspire giving and awareness, they mostly benefit organizations with more capacity. Organizations serving diverse stakeholders are especially challenged.

We have designed this program with capacity-constrained nonprofits in mind. For this pilot program, we are accepting up to ten (10) nonprofits. The program will start the first week in April, allowing participating organizations to leverage their produced videos for NH Gives (and many other future opportunities).

Please submit your application by March 27, 2026. Application link:

Earnest Impact Lab Application (Granite Goodness & Blackbird Collective) - Google Forms

About Tim and Andy

Tim Smith-Gerding and Andy DeMeo will co-facilitate the program.

Tim is President of Blackbird Collective, empowering impact leaders and teams with the resources to thrive. His social impact work has been featured in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Boston Globe (Social Impact ChangeMaker), San Francisco Business Times, and Stanford Social Innovation Review. Tim has extensive experience in both Funder and Executive Director roles. He has helped raise 7-figure major gifts for various organizations and causes.

Andy is an award-winning solutions journalist and the creator and host of Granite Goodness, a New England–focused media platform sharing optimistic, nonpartisan stories of progress through newsletters, podcasts, events, and digital and print media. Recognized as New Hampshire’s 2025 Young Person of the Year by Stay Work Play New Hampshire, he brings over a decade of experience working with mission-driven organizations across climate policy, sustainability, higher education, local food systems, beekeeping, and impact investing.

Program Options

There are two options for participating in this program:

1. Earnest Impact Lab (Option A)

Participating Organizations Receive:

Leadership Development

• 10 Weeks of Executive Coaching with Blackbird Collective; for the Executive Director or a designated team member

  • Topics can include strategy and planning, external relations and fundraising, board relations, organizational development, funder pitches, and more.

  • Some sessions may be used for joint ED/Board Chair coaching and support.

Video Production for NH Gives and Other Events

• A produced 2-3 minute video from Granite Goodness to elevate your organization’s stories and vision in a compelling way.

• Videos will be filmed at your space / in your community.

Effective Messaging & Network Development

• Two group sessions with Andy DeMeo of Granite Goodness on effective messaging and network development, for up to two people per organization.

Refreshed Positioning & Pitch Deck for Funders

• A refreshed organizational pitch deck to use for transformative funding pitches.

2. Earnest Impact Lab Light (Option B)

Video Production for NH Gives and Other Events

• A produced 2-3 minute video from Granite Goodness to elevate your organization’s stories and vision in a compelling way.

• Videos will be filmed at your space / in your community.

Refreshed Positioning & Pitch Deck for Funders

• A refreshed organizational pitch deck to use for transformative funding pitches.

We will host a watch event to unveil the final products and share reflections on the program.

Cost

We want this program to be accessible to nonprofits and projects that may lack significant capacity. We are offering a sliding scale based on your annual operating budget. Blackbird Collective will administer all contracts. 

50% of your program fee will be due by April 15, 2026, with the remaining 50% due prior to video production

Option A: Earnest Impact Lab

$300,000+ Operating Budget: $6,500

Under 300,000 Operating Budget: $4,500

Option B: Earnest Impact Lab Light

$300,000+ Operating Budget: $4,000

Under Operating Budget: $3,250

Funder Underwriting

We welcome sponsorship/underwriting from the funding community through expenditure responsibility or direct support. Please contact Tim Smith-Gerding (email below) if sponsorship/underwriting is of interest to your organization.

• Consider supporting some of your grantees to participate in the Earnest Impact Lab

• Sponsor the program to increase your visibility as an engaged leader in the ecosystem

• Support sector capacity building in a leveraged manner

Please use the application form to indicate your intention to participate. We will offer another cohort this fall if we are over-committed.

Email tim@blkbrd.org with any clarifying questions.

-Tim & Andy

Granite Goodness will return next week with more good news and podcasts! If you missed our newsletter this week, here it is.

Don’t miss our live show Friday 3/27, and mark your calendar for a Granite Goodness community meetup Tues, March 17.

: )

Don’t want to receive this newsletter? Adjust your preferences here.

NOTE FROM ANDY

Hello everyone! WELCOME to the 116 new humans (and their dogs!) who have joined the Granite Goodness community so far in 2026. And big thank you to the 7 new members of our Optimists Club!

Excited to share our first regular newsletter of the year. There is LOTS of good news to share but first— our live show is coming up in three weeks! Come hang out with us and some of our other favorite local podcasts at 3S Artspace. Tickets here!

A bit of housekeeping— we’re trying something new this newsletter. Typically, these include 20-25 stories. In response to feedback from the community, we’re going to run fewer stories per issue (10-15), but publish more often. Also enjoy the new postcards we use for each section, courtesy of the Tichnor Brothers Collection : )

Partner Spotlight!

We’re excited to welcome Resilient Buildings Group (RBG) as our newest Community Partner.

RBG’s mission is simple: scale the number and quality of high performance, low energy, resilient buildings across New England.

Energy efficiency does not always get the spotlight. But it is often the most effective and highest ROI way to lower costs and reduce emissions. While massive solar projects and large infrastructure grab headlines, the quiet work of tightening building envelopes, reducing heat loss, and improving performance delivers real and lasting impact today instead of years into the future.

I personally know many of the (wonderful) people at RBG. Their ethos and approach align deeply with Granite Goodness, where we aim to highlight the people and organizations making meaningful progress on hard issues across New England.

THANK YOU to Resilient Buildings Group and to all of our partners for supporting us! Now enjoy some good news!

GRANITE GREENERY: Sustainability & Nature

New Hampshire’s clean energy idea goes national

A New Hampshire program that sends clean energy experts town to town just won $3 million in federal funding to expand nationwide, helping communities cut costs and emissions. The Energy Circuit Rider model has already saved local governments millions, and now its practical, community first approach is ready to roll across rural America. - Canary Media

Maine beefs up coastal resilience

Maine’s Office of Community Affairs launched a resilience and hazard‑mitigation program that offers grants of up to $50,000 for individual coastal communities and $75,000 for groups to plan long‑term protections against storm surge and sea‑level rise. - Maine Department of Marine Resources

Connecticut launches energy‑efficiency loan and grant fund

Connecticut announced a new $18 million program to help homeowners upgrade heating, cooling, and insulation. The fund will support single- and multifamily homes by removing barriers so more households can make clean, efficient upgrades that pay off fast. - State of Connecticut Governor’s Office

GRANITE GRIT: Building & Infrastructure

In 2025, Connecticut delivers an all time best for infrastructure wins

Last year, the state rebuilt major bridges, repaved 250+ miles of roadway, and pushed 200+ projects under construction while securing over $100 million in state and federal funding for rail, transit, safety, and electric vehicle charging. Award-winning bridge rebuilds, wrong-way driving detection, new train stations, trail improvements, and bus upgrades made statewide travel safer and more reliable. - Connecticut Department of Transportation

Massachusetts invests in closing the digital divide

Massachusetts is investing $4.5 million in digital equity projects across 61 communities, expanding internet access, devices, and digital skills statewide. The funding is helping thousands of residents get connected and pushing the state closer to its goal of internet access for all. - Telecompetitor

Vermont’s small towns get a generational opportunity at building new homes

A new statewide program will invest up to $2 billion through 2035 to help Vermont towns pay for roads, sewers, and other basics needed to unlock new housing. By letting future tax revenue fund today’s infrastructure, the plan opens the door for thousands of new homes, stronger downtowns, and a more affordable future across rural Vermont. - Realtor.com

GRANITE GROWTH: Economics & Opportunity

USDA invests in New England forest health and timber markets

The New England Forestry Foundation just secured a $32 million USDA award to improve forest management across 50,000 acres and strengthen local wood markets across New England. - New England Forestry Foundation

New grants boost main street and local economies across NH

New Hampshire communities are receiving over $9 million in new federal grants to expand child care, upgrade infrastructure, preserve historic places, and strengthen rural economies across six counties. The funding will add child care slots, modernize water and public facilities, support small businesses, and create new jobs. - My Keene Now

Rhode Island’s winter economy buoyed by sports

Sporting events are set to bring $15.5 million in direct spending to Rhode Island in early 2026, with 17 winter tournaments drawing nearly 78,000 visitors and filling more than 18,000 hotel room nights statewide. The growth flips winter from a traditionally slow season into a powerful engine for tourism, jobs, and local economic activity. - What’s Up Newport

GRANITE GADGETS: Science & Technology

MIT cracks a key battery puzzle, opening the door to faster charging

Researchers at MIT developed a new model explaining how lithium ions and electrons move together inside batteries, a breakthrough that could significantly speed up charging and extend battery life. The team tested more than 50 battery material combinations, laying the groundwork for electric vehicles and devices that charge faster, last longer, and waste less energy. - MIT

Colby lands $150 million gift to supercharge science in Maine

Colby College received a $150 million gift, the largest in its history, to build a new science complex and launch applied science, engineering, and public health programs. The investment is expected to catalyze up to $500 million in total impact, strengthen Maine’s science ecosystem, support K–12 STEM education, and help rural communities compete for next generation jobs. - Colby College

Dartmouth study points to safer psilocybin based treatments

Researchers at Dartmouth identified a neural receptor that delivers psilocybin’s antidepressant and anti anxiety benefits without hallucinations. The discovery could lead to safer, more affordable treatments for depression and anxiety. - Dartmouth

GRANITE GOODS: Institutions & Community

New England states awarded over $500 million to advance rural healthcare

New England is seeing a historic infusion of federal support to strengthen health care in its rural communities, with New Hampshire projected to receive about $204 million, Vermont around $195 million, Maine roughly $190 million, Massachusetts about $162 million, Connecticut around $154 million, and Rhode Island about $156 million in the programs’ first year alone.

The funds are all part of a nationwide $50 billion effort to expand access, modernize facilities, and build up the rural health workforce. This unprecedented investment will help bring better preventive care, new health care workers, upgraded technology, and stronger local systems to towns and villages across the region, making high-quality care more reachable for rural Americans. - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Electric‑bill relief expands for low‑income Mainers

Maine’s Low‑Income Assistance Program will receive $33 million (50% increase) and expand eligibility to households earning up to 150 percent of the federal poverty line. The revamped program introduces predictable monthly discounts instead of lump‑sum credits, automatically enrolls eligible ratepayers, and aims to make it easier for struggling households to manage energy costs. - Maine Morning Star

RI Girls coalition receives major philanthropic boost

The Rhode Island Foundation awarded a $750,000 three‑year Catalyst Grant to five nonprofits led by the Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England to launch the state’s first Girls Coalition. The coalition will coordinate programs, share data and advocate for the well‑being of girls and gender‑expansive youth, building on findings from the RI Girls Report. - What’s Up Newport

That’s it for this edition of the Good News in New England Newsletter! If you’d like to support Granite Goodness, consider joining our Optimists Club.

We also post on Instagram, Linkedin, and Facebook. Learn about the people behind these stories on our podcast. You can customize what you receive from us here.

All postard images are sourced from the Tichnor Brothers Collection at the Boston Public Library, licensed under CCO 1.0.

Hungry for other stories of progress, innovation, and good news beyond the borders of New England? Check out our friends at , , or our very own Optimists Club newsletter.

If you are interested in sponsoring this newsletter or partnering with us, please reach out at hello@granitegoodness.com. Thanks for reading!

-Andy

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE!

So excited to bring you the very first OPTIMISTS CLUB newsletter.

First, I cannot thank each and every one of you enough. Many of you are friends of mine, colleagues, former coworkers or professors, or just great people— all of whom have gone out of their way to materially support Granite Goodness, or gifted that capacity to someone else special in your life. I hope to make you proud, and maybe even a little more optimistic.

Lots going on in Granite Goodness land but above all I hope to see you all at our next LIVE SHOW on Feb 20, at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth. Use code GRANITE for a discount!

Also save the date— there is going to be a meetup on Tues March 17 at Treeline Outfitters in collaboration with our friends at Give and Gather.

If you haven’t already, please fill out the Optimists Club intake info so I can show you off to the world and send you a print newsletter if you like. Reply to me here with any questions!

Now onto the news.

It’s rough out there. We all see it. The news is always dark by nature, but maybe it’s a bit extra dark lately. It even prompted me to write something this past week if you’re curious.

My vision for this newsletter is less a thorough recitation of global progress (done better by others), and more of an inside window on what personally is giving me the most hope and optimism lately. I read a lot of progress journalism, so I’ll share some of my favorite stories here, along with highlighting some of you great people.

This community is very wonderful and organic, if you have any ideas don’t hesitate to reach out. I am already scheming with some of you ; )

Since this is the very first edition of this newsletter, I thought I’d open by echoing my favorite mantra from the very smart people at Our World in Data, who publish world-class freely accessible research on all the biggest problems. It goes like this:

#1 The world is awful.

#2 The world is better than it used to be (in a lot of ways we can measure).

#3 The world can be better than it is now. Way better.

These three statements are true at the same time— they don’t contradict each other!

We’re constantly surrounded by examples of #1. It dominates our feeds and headlines. What we encounter far less often are stories of #2 and #3.

A core insight of solutions journalism is that when our attention is monopolized by #1, we unintentionally reinforce it.

Similarly, giving more space to #2 and #3 helps create more of #2 and #3.

In a nutshell, that’s what we’re trying to do here at Granite Goodness. So here is a nice dose of #2 and #3 from around the world.

OUR TOP GLOBAL PROGRESS STORIES THIS MONTH

Read more

There are now more than 1,600 of you, and my biggest goal in 2026 is simple: bringing all you great people together in real life.

In that spirit, we are kicking off the year by announcing our next live show!

A celebration of local podcasts

As some of you may know, Granite Goodness is just one among many amazing local shows. There is a fast growing scene!

Some shows are experienced. Some are brand new. Some are creative. Some are issues-focused. All of them are having an impact that is substantive and optimistic…granite and good!

To my delight, no one has brought them all together to celebrate what they are building.

UNTIL NOW!

Join us March 27 at 3S Artspace

We’ll be doing a two part live show featuring:

• Steve Ivo, Host of Dr. Beewell

• Laura Harper Lake + Becky Barsi, Co-hosts of Creative Guts (Laura is a GG alum!)

• Jennifer Bakos, Host of Telltalks Northeast (Jenn is a GG alum!)

• Marissa Emanuele + Emily Briand, Co-hosts of One Quick Thing

• Alison Kinsey, Host of Real Time Creator

• Liz Canada, Host of New Hampshire Has Issues

TICKETS HERE!

If you want a feel for what our live shows are like, you can check out the recording and photos from our first one. It was a night to remember.

“Wait, aren’t these your competitors?”

…is what a cynic might say, glancing at our lineup.

To which I say:

1) That is not the New Hampshire way.

2) In all honesty, no, the only “competition” I am keen to destroy is the internet’s giant mountain of divisive / rage bait slop content, not other local creators who all add something valuable to state / regional discourse.

3) If you do not believe me, come watch us obliterate the darkness by lifting each other up, making you laugh, sharing spicy policy takes, highlighting incredible local creatives + businesses, and creating all manner of good vibes.

Official show description:

Granite Goodness, the award-winning podcast highlighting optimism and progress across New England, comes to 3S Artspace on March 27 for an evening celebrating New Hampshire’s vibrant and fast-growing podcast scene.

Join host Andy DeMeo as he brings together local podcast voices shaping regional dialogue around policy, art, business, creativity, community, and more.

This two-part conversation explores how independent media creators surface ideas, inspire action, and solve real problems across New Hampshire and beyond.

Each segment will run approximately 40 minutes, with a 10-minute intermission. The night kicks off with a performance by local indie-folk favorite Sneaky Miles.

Segment 1 Guests

Marissa Emanuele + Emily Briand, Co-hosts, One Quick Thing

Liz Canada, Host, NH Has Issues

Steve Ivo, Host, Dr. Beewell

Segment 2 Guests

Laura Harper Lake + Becky Barsi, Co-hosts, Creative Guts

Alison Kinsey, Host, Real Time Creator

Jenn Bakos, Host, Telltalks Northeast

Dr. Beewell explores holistic health, entrepreneurship, and wellbeing through wide-ranging conversations on mind, body, and modern living, hosted by Dr. Steve Ivanoski.

Creative Guts is an interview-style podcast exploring the roots of creativity and how it connects us to the world around us. Hosted by Laura Harper Lake, Becky Barsi, and Joe Acone.

Real Time Creator is a voice-note style podcast documenting the raw, real-time journey of creative reinvention after a career break, hosted by Alison Kinsey.

New Hampshire Has Issues is the podcast that dares to ask, how many issues can one state have? Hosted by Liz Canada, an advocacy director who helps people understand issues and take meaningful action.

One Quick Thing shares quick, actionable ways to connect with your community when it matters most, hosted by Marissa Emanuele and Emily Briand.

Telltalks Northeast features deep-dive conversations with small business owners, entrepreneurs, creatives, and makers across the Northeast, hosted by Jenn Bakos.

Tickets available now!

Afterparty at The Wilder in Portsmouth.

(Optimists Club members, stay tuned for a discount code!)

Hope to see you soon,

-Andy

It has been QUITE a year here at Granite Goodness.

If you have never taken a look at our timeline page, it’s worth a peek.

Over the past year, Granite Goodness has grown in ways I could not have imagined.

In 2025, Granite Goodness:

Built big momentum

• Had our first ever live show, with 115 attendees!!!

• Co-hosted TEDx Portsmouth (largest TEDx event in all of New England), emceed the Bring Back the Trades 2025 Skills Expo at Gillette Stadium, and emceed the 2025 Manchester International Film Festival

• Shared 500+ stories of progress and problem solving across New England in climate, energy, sustainability, housing, infrastructure, economics, workforce development, science, technology, and the nonprofit sector

• Expanded coverage to all six New England states and joined the Progress Network

Grew our community

• Hosted two guest reunions, joined three panels, held six sustainability networking events, and launched three partnerships

• Tripled our podcast downloads and brought our solutions lens to 6 other podcasts

• Grew the newsletter community by more than 6x to over 3,000 subscribers across Substack and Linkedin

• Fostered an online community of 10,000+ social media followers (10x growth) engaging regularly with stories that counter cynicism and highlight real progress

Earned trust and recognition

• Interviewed half of New Hampshire’s congressional delegation, the Governor of NH, UNH’s President, and many others offering optimistic, expert perspectives on housing, opioids, healthcare costs, trades careers, state economics, local food systems, and other issues important to New England.

• Received three awards including NH Young Person of the Year, a UNH GOLD Award, and Catapult Seacoast’s Ten to Watch.

• Published a piece in NH Business Review and attracted press from The Union Leader and UNH Magazine

It has been a lot of work, and I have loved every moment. Granite Goodness is not something I clock into. I live and breathe it.

From the beginning, I have done this project almost entirely for free, purely out of a desire to manifest a more optimistic view of our corner of the world. Apart from a handful of sponsorships, that has remained true.

Looking ahead, Granite Goodness has reached a point where, thanks to all of you, I get to dream even bigger about the impact it can have.

A new way to support Granite Goodness

When I look at everything Granite Goodness has been able to do with very little money, it is clear how much possibility opens up with even a modest amount of support.

So, in that spirit, and in response to popular demand, effective today we are officially launching a new way to support Granite Goodness: Optimists Club!

Optimists Club supports Granite Goodness and helps sustain our optimistic, local, solutions-focused storytelling.

Membership

$5 per month or $50 annually

Annual memberships are discounted to $35 through the end of 2025

Members receive:

• Mailed print editions of Granite Goodness newsletters
  Members can opt in to receive physical copies by mail, or opt out at any time.

• An exclusive monthly members-only newsletter

  A paywalled edition featuring our personal favorite stories of progress and problem-solving from around the world. All other Granite Goodness content will always remain free.

• Discounted tickets to Granite Goodness LIVE shows and merchandise
  (We had our first live show on 11/20/25, merchandise coming in 2026)

• Recognition and features
  Members may opt into being publicly recognized on the Granite Goodness website and newsletter. Optimists Club members are randomly selected for newsletter features.

If you like Granite Goodness and want to support our work, including:

• Newsletters sharing stories of progress across New England

• Podcast interviews with leaders and optimists from across the region

• LIVE events highlighting local problem solvers

• Regular meetups (more coming in 2026)

• Social media storytelling and collaborations with journalists, nonprofits, universities, and innovators

You can also gift an annual membership to someone else in your life who you think could use a little optimism, currently discounted to $35 through the end of 2025.

We’re building something bigger

From the beginning, part of the mission of Granite Goodness has been to help build a better way to tell stories about the problems we face. To do this, we rely on excellent local journalists across New Hampshire and New England, and we believe a healthy local media ecosystem is essential to an informed sense of optimism.

Optimists Club is designed with that belief built in. 10% of all Optimists Club revenue will be donated to organizations that support local journalism in New Hampshire and New England, including groups like the Granite State News Collaborative.

THANK YOU ALL for being part of this community and for helping me believe that optimism isn’t naive. It’s pragmatic.

Hard, and worth it.

Granite and good.

-Andy

I’d like to extend a BIG thank you to:

• Our sponsor, Grappone Automotive (especially you, Amanda!)

• Corinne Benfield, Executive Director of Stay Work Play NH

• Mike Skelton, President of the Business and Industry Association of NH

• Steve Turner, Founder of Bring Back the Trades

• Shana Brunye, Chief Operations Officer at Bring Back the Trades

• My musical friends at Sneaky Miles for opening the evening

• Warren O’Reilly, Lisa Neville, and the Rex Theatre team for making this so easy and fun

• My friends at InFocus Media for recording and producing the show

• Morgan Karanasios for being our wonderful photographer. All pictures here!

• Everyone who showed up! We had 100+ people there : )

You all made me feel optimistic!

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NOTE FROM ANDY

Hello everyone! We had a BLAST at Granite Goodness LIVE on Nov. 20. BIG thank you to our sponsor Grappone Automotive, the Rex Theatre, and our panelists Corinne Benfield, Mike Skelton, Steve Turner, and Shana Brunye.

We’ll be dropping the recording of the live show this week, so stay tuned!

Don’t miss last weeks episode featuring Anthony S. Poore and Jo Porter from the New Hampshire Center for Justice & Equity (thanks for our friends at NH Possible!)

SPONSOR

We’re often told the world is falling apart. Indeed, the loudest headlines focus endlessely on what’s going wrong. At Granite Goodness, we highlight the other half of the story… the steady, often quiet progress that real people create every day across our corner of the world.

Many challenges that once felt overwhelming are now improving because tons of people worked to make things better. The same is true for local stories of progress.

That spirit of optimism and possibility is why I’m proud to have Grappone Automotive sponsor this newsletter.

If you’d met the Grappones in 1924, you’d only have a picture of some scrappy Italians who operate and run a small gas station in NH. Missing from that impression would be the thriving business and community ecosystem built from the family over the next century, and the thousands of people who helped to make that happen.

Amanda Grappone, their fourth generation steward, joined me earlier this year on Granite Goodness to share that journey, also joining us at Granite Goodness LIVE!

In honor of their 100 years of service to New Hampshire, we also compiled 100 local stories of Granite Staters making the world better in 2025.

Thank you to Amanda and the entire Grappone family for their support of Granite Goodness and for being our presenting sponsor at Granite Goodness: LIVE!

And now, enjoy some good news : )

-Andy

GRANITE GREENERY - Sustainability & Environment

New Hampshire launches ASPIRE to accelerate homegrown clean energy

New Hampshire’s Community Power Coalition has launched ASPIRE, a new program giving renewable developers a stable, predictable path to build more local clean-energy projects. With seven proposals already in and 68 member communities involved, ASPIRE is poised to boost affordable, community-driven clean energy across the state. - NH Community Power Coalition

New England’s last coal plant switches off for good

In Bow, NH, the Merrimack Station coal plant has closed three years ahead of schedule, ending coal use across all of New England. The site will be reborn as a clean-energy hub with solar and battery storage, and advocates say the transition will meaningfully shrink the region’s carbon footprint. - NH Bulletin

Newport bets on trails, Main Street, and the river

Newport is leaning into the outdoor economy with help from the EPA’s Recreation Economy for Rural Communities program. The town is working to better connect Main Street to the Sugar River Rail Trail and regional paths, update wayfinding, boost walkability, draw more visitors, and fold in flood protection and ecosystem restoration at the same time. - Northern Border Regional Commission

Lancaster runs its transfer station on sunshine

Lancaster, NH has built what is believed to be the region’s first off-grid municipal transfer station, powered entirely by solar panels and electric equipment. Grants covered nearly half the cost, and the new system cuts diesel use, trims utility bills, and shows how electric loaders plus rooftop arrays can save towns thousands of dollars each year. - Construction Equipment Guide

GRANITE GRIT - Building & Infrastructure

New Hampshire on track for universal broadband by 2026

New Hampshire officials say the state is now positioned to reach 100 percent broadband access by 2026, years ahead of schedule. Updated federal rules let the state use a wider mix of technologies, including satellite, to reach the last few thousand unserved locations. With funding allocated and providers lined up, New Hampshire is close to ensuring every home and business can get online. - NH Business Review

New program accelerates affordable workforce housing in New Hampshire

New Hampshire is launching InvestNH 2.0, a 7 million dollar initiative that gives communities and developers new tools to speed up affordable workforce housing. The program funds redevelopment, site work, safety upgrades, and construction, helping bring projects to life faster and ensuring at least 20 percent of units remain affordable for working families. - NH BEA

Allenstown upgrades its wastewater plant to protect the Merrimack

Allenstown is beginning an $11 million overhaul of its wastewater facility, adding new clarifiers and modern systems that will send cleaner water into the Suncook and Merrimack Rivers. It’s a small town project with big downstream benefits, helping safeguard a watershed shared by nearly 200 New England communities. - Hoyle Tanner

Monadnock region secures $65 million for safer roads and stronger connections

New Hampshire’s new 10-year transportation plan brings about $65 million in investment to the Monadnock region. Communities across the area will see safer roads, upgraded bridges, and new pedestrian connections. - Monadnock Ledger Transcript

GRANITE GROWTH - Economy & Workforce

Plymouth State builds a rural opioid response talent pipeline

Thanks to a $1.56 million federal grant, PSU is launching the Plymouth Area Rural Opioid Training Collaborative, a program that will train more behavioral health professionals, fund paid fellowships, and build a stronger regional network for medication assisted treatment. - Plymouth State University

A new apprenticeship strengthens NH’s early-childhood workforce

A partnership across ApprenticeshipNH, River Valley Community College, and Head Start is launching a new apprenticeship model that blends 4,000 hours of paid work with coursework leading to a degree. It’s built to ease New Hampshire’s shortage of early-childhood educators. - Apprenticeship NH

New Hampshire invests nearly 2 million dollars to fuel small business growth

New Hampshire is directing $1.99 million to eight organizations that help entrepreneurs sharpen their skills, access coaching, and secure the tools they need to launch and grow. The funding will support 339 small business owners statewide and strengthens the local networks that make New Hampshire’s startup community thrive. - NH CDFA

NH program helps hundreds step into nursing careers

Elliot Hospital’s Granite State Partners Program has supported 300 aspiring nurses, bringing together more than 40 partners to remove barriers like tuition, childcare, and transportation. - Manchester Ink Link

GRANITE GADGETS - Science & Innovation

New Hampshire continues to emerge as a rising powerhouse in life sciences

New Hampshire’s life sciences sector is surging, with industry establishments up 87 percent and employment up 28 percent since 2019. With more than 50 companies now in the NH Life Sciences network, the state is fast becoming a regional hub for biotech and medical technology. - Manchester InkLink

UNH opens new cleanroom to power advanced research

UNH has unveiled a new ISO7 cleanroom at the John Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center, giving students, researchers, and local companies access to a cutting-edge space for microelectronics, space technology, and precision manufacturing. - UNH Today

Manchester mill aims to revolutionize organ donation

A historic mill in Manchester’s Millyard has been renewed as a modern United Therapeutics research center, where scientists are developing 3D-printed structures that could eventually support lab-grown lungs. - NH Business Review

GRANITE GRATITUDE - Nonprofits & Public Sector

Record $40 million gift boosts opportunities for New Hampshire students

Saint Anselm College has received a historic $40 million gift from Robert and Beverly Grappone, strengthening programs in business, the humanities, nursing, and campus life. - Philanthropy News Digest

Moody’s upgrade signals stronger, more reliable care for New Hampshire residents

Moody’s decision to raise Elliot Health System’s bond rating from A3 to A2 shows that New Hampshire’s healthcare network is becoming more stable, well-resourced, and prepared to deliver high-quality care. - Manchester Ink Link

NH Speedway grants fuel new opportunities for New England youth

Speedway Children’s Charities New Hampshire awarded $155,600 to 43 nonprofits across the region, helping to expand mentoring, arts, education, and a range of confidence building outlets for kids across New England. - NH Motor Speedway

That’s it for this edition of the Good News in New Hampshire Newsletter! We also post on Instagram, Linkedin, and Facebook. Be sure to check out our other newsletter covering all of New England!

Stay tuned for upcoming newsletters covering Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Learn about the people behind these stories on our podcast. You can customize what you recieve from us here.

This newsletter is shared in partnership with our friends at NH Rocks and The Granite Post. Subscribe to the Granite Post here for NH news you can use!

Hungry for other stories of progress, innovation, and good news beyond the borders of New England? Check out our friends at or The Progress Network.

If you are interested in sponsoring this newsletter or partnering with us, please reach out at hello@granitegoodness.com.

-Andy

Don’t want to receive this newsletter? Adjust your preferences here.

NOTE FROM ANDY

Hello everyone! I hope to see many of you this week for Granite Goodness: LIVE!1

Get your tickets ASAP and use code GRANITE for a discount : )

Glad to be back today with more Granite Goodness! It has been a wild time these past few weeks. There are now over 1,000 of you! Subscriber growth is ticking up! If you haven’t introduced yourself to me yet— please do! Who are you? And what made you subscribe?

Thanks to you all Granite Goodness continues to grow and flourish. The enthusiasm from this community has garnered this project more recognition and awards (on top of already being named Young Person of the Year by Stay Work Play NH!)

We’re just getting started. Thanks to everyone for coming to our Sustainabili-brews meetup last week, and see you all Thursday at the Rex Theatre in Manchester! And stay tuned this week for our episode with Anthony Poore and Jo Porter from the NH Center for Justice & Equity.

SPONSOR

We’re often told that the current year is uniquely terrible, that everything is falling apart, and that hope for a better future is naive. Certainly, if you only pay attention to the worst headlines, it can feel that way.

But at Granite Goodness, we tell a different story.

Most big problems build slowly. By the time they reach the news cycle, it’s easy to present them in an overwhelming way.

Take a scan of today’s headlines and you might miss for example, that the United States has possibly entered the first period on record where every major cause of premature death (car crashes, murder, heart disease, overdoses) is declining together. Or that we are on track to achieve a historic low in the number of people imprisoned in America.

All of these problems were once presented as overwhelming— hopeless even— capturing the attention of many media cycles. But quietly over time, millions of people collaborated, innovated, and worked to make it better. If all one saw was the initial snapshot of a problem, you’d miss the world of possibility that came afterward.

That sense of possibility is why I am proud to have Grappone Automotive sponsor this newsletter.

If you’d met the Grappones in 1924, you’d only have a picture of some scrappy Italians who operate and run a small gas station in NH. Missing from that impression would be the thriving business and community ecosystem built from the family over the next century, and the thousands of people who helped to make that happen.

Amanda Grappone, their fourth generation steward, joined me earlier this year on Granite Goodness to share that journey.

In honor of their 100 years of service to New Hampshire, we also compiled 100 local stories of Granite Staters making the world better in 2025.

Thank you to Amanda and the entire Grappone family for their support of Granite Goodness and for being our presenting sponsor at Granite Goodness: LIVE!

And now, enjoy some good news : )

-Andy

GRANITE GREENERY - Sustainability & Environment

New England’s last coal plant switches off for good

In Bow, NH, the Merrimack Station coal plant has closed three years ahead of schedule, ending coal use across all of New England. The site will be reborn as a clean-energy hub with solar and battery storage, and advocates say the transition will meaningfully shrink the region’s carbon footprint. - NH Bulletin

Maine launches fund to protect climate-ready coastlines

Maine Coast Heritage Trust has opened applications for its new $4.1 million Climate Resilience Conservation Fund, offering grants for projects that protect land, buffer storms, and reduce flooding risks. It’s part of a broader effort to build a coastline that can weather the decades ahead. - Maine Coast Heritage Trust

Massachusetts puts new resources into marine recovery

Nearly $500,000 from the Massachusetts Environmental Trust will support work to protect endangered marine species, including whale and sea turtle rescue and habitat restoration. Every specialty license plate sold helps sustain the effort. - Mass.gov

Rhode Island backs small clean-ups with big community impact

Rhode Island’s latest round of Litter-Free microgrants is helping residents plant trees, create public art, and clean up local parks. With awards up to $2,000 and nearly 200 microgrants given since last year, the program shows how small interventions can scale to transform public spaces. - RI.gov

Connecticut rolls out a major resilience fund

Connecticut has launched a 2025 Climate Resilience Fund with more than $44 million available for towns and nonprofits. The goal: help communities design projects that defend against extreme weather, from energy resilience to nature-based protection. - CT.gov

GRANITE GRIT - Building & Infrastructure

Allenstown upgrades its wastewater plant to protect the Merrimack

Allenstown is beginning an $11 million overhaul of its wastewater facility, adding new clarifiers and modern systems that will send cleaner water into the Suncook and Merrimack Rivers. It’s a small town project with big downstream benefits, helping safeguard a watershed shared by nearly 200 New England communities. - Hoyle Tanner

Vermont expands its EV fast-charging spine

Vermont has secured nearly $16 million to build 50 to 60 fast-charging ports across the state. New stations in places like Randolph and Wilmington will help accelerate the shift to cleaner transportation. - VT Public

Augusta gets a new Western Avenue Bridge

MaineDOT has begun a $30 million rebuild of the Western Avenue Bridge, upgrading one of central Maine’s busiest corridors with safer lanes, new utilities, and smoother connections to I-95. It’s a practical infrastructure win that will make everyday travel easier for thousands of people moving through the capital. - Maine DOT

Rhode Island invests $120 million in new housing tools

Rhode Island’s housing bond programs are now underway, offering millions for infrastructure, planning, and supportive housing. It’s a major push to expand the state’s housing pipeline at multiple scales. - RI.gov

Connecticut boosts funding to help towns fix their roads

Connecticut is increasing its Town Aid Road grants by 33 percent, raising support to $80 million for the next two years. The investment will give every town the resources to repave streets, repair bridges, and strengthen local infrastructure, helping communities across the state build safer, smoother roads for years to come. - CT.gov

GRANITE GROWTH - Economy & Workforce

A new apprenticeship strengthens NH’s early-childhood workforce

A partnership across ApprenticeshipNH, River Valley Community College, and Head Start is launching a new apprenticeship model that blends 4,000 hours of paid work with coursework leading to a degree. It’s built to ease New Hampshire’s shortage of early-childhood educators. - Apprenticeship NH

Maine expands its cybersecurity talent pipeline

The University of Maine at Augusta has won a $200,000 federal grant to train new cybersecurity workers through micro-credentials, boot camps, and apprenticeships, with a goal of placing most participants in jobs within six months. - University of Maine

Vermont launches forgivable loans for trades careers

A new $3 million program in Vermont will fully cover tuition and licensing for high-demand trades like construction and mechanical fields. Graduates who work in-state can have their loans forgiven. - VT Student Assistance Corporation

Rhode Island invests in its farm and food future

RI Grown Week brought a wave of new grants totaling more than $575,000 to support farmers, school food literacy, specialty crops, and second-generation producers. It’s part of a growing effort to strengthen local food systems. - RI Dept. of Environemtnal Management

GRANITE GADGETS - Science & Innovation

A new innovation hub takes shape in New Haven

Connecticut is investing $50.5 million to jumpstart an innovation district in downtown New Haven. The funding will support a new innovation center, climate-resilient streetscapes, and facilities to accelerate quantum tech and life-science development. - CT.Gov

UVM’s new AI Fund sparks cross-campus experimentation

The University of Vermont has launched an AI Innovation Fund offering mini-grants and larger awards for workshops, research, and interdisciplinary projects. The goal is simple: help more people experiment with emerging tools. - University of Vermont

MIT’s tiny injectable antenna could change medical implants

MIT researchers have created a 200-micrometer magnetoelectric antenna that can wirelessly power deep-tissue implants. It generates more power than previous designs and could enable battery-free pacemakers and other micro-devices. - MIT

Quantum science gets a boost in Rhode Island

The University of Rhode Island has secured a five-year, $5 million NSF grant to expand quantum research, support students, and build a new dedicated lab, strengthening New England’s growing quantum corridor. - University of Rhode Island

UConn scientists develop rapid Alzheimer’s blood tests

Chemists at UConn have created two low-cost tests that detect Alzheimer’s-related microRNA markers using CRISPR technology. The approach could bring earlier, more accessible diagnosis to clinics. - University of Connecticut

GRANITE GRATITUDE - Nonprofits & Public Sector

Cambridge strengthens its safety net

Cambridge and the Cambridge Community Foundation are investing $500,000 in food pantries and grocery assistance for residents affected by the federal shutdown, helping ensure families and seniors have reliable access to food. - Cambridge Community Foundation

A historic gift fuels Saint Anselm’s next century

A $40 million gift from Robert and Beverly Grappone2 will support business innovation, the humanities, nursing, athletics, and student life at Saint Anselm College, marking the largest contribution in the school’s history. - Philanthropy News Digest

Rockefeller Fund invests in vibrant Vermont communities

The Laurance and Mary Rockefeller Fund is offering grants of $1,000 to $5,000 to support projects that strengthen nature, culture, and community well-being in Woodstock and neighboring towns. The program helps local groups bring new energy and possibility to central Vermont. - Common Good VT

Bangor opens a collaborative home for Maine’s nonprofits

Heart of Maine United Way has launched a first-of-its-kind nonprofit hub in Bangor, giving local organizations a shared space to meet, collaborate, and spark new ideas. Leaders say the center will strengthen partnerships across the region and help nonprofits work together in more creative, impactful ways. - Spectrum News

That’s it for this edition of the Good News in New England Newsletter! We also post on Instagram, Linkedin, and Facebook. Be sure to check out our other newsletters or the people behind these stories on our podcast. You can customize what you receive from us here.

Hungry for other stories of progress, innovation, and good news beyond the borders of New England? Check out our friends at or The Progress Network.

If you are interested in sponsoring this newsletter or partnering with us, please reach out at hello@granitegoodness.com.

See you Thursday for Granite Goodness: LIVE!3

Gene Martin is the Executive Director of the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute, and he is here to prove that fiscal policy is not boring. In this episode, Gene breaks down what fiscal policy actually is, why it touches every single part of your day, and why New Hampshire has a real shot at solving its biggest challenges before they become crises. Also: he has a Live Free or Die belt and 2,000 weeks left, and he is not wasting either of them.

This episode was produced in partnership with NH Possible, focusing on the NH Fiscal Policy Institute. Learn more about them at nhpossible.org and nhfpi.org

NH Possible is a collaboration between:

• Health Strategies of NH

• NH Health Cost Initiative

• HealthForce NH

• Foundation for Healthy Communities

• NH Center for Justice & Equity

• NH Fiscal Policy Institute

• and NH Businesses for Social Responsibility

Together, they are building a statewide movement envisioning a New Hampshire where individuals, families, communities and businesses all have what they need to thrive, including a sense of belonging, opportunities for civic engagement, optimal health, and access to educational and financial opportunity.

This episode is shared in partnership with our friends at NH Rocks!

Music provided by Sneaky Miles

Lots of new subscribers lately so I just want to say hello and welcome! Sorry for no newsletter this week— I’ve been hard at work preparing to announce our first ever LIVE PODCAST RECORDING!

On Thurs Nov 20 at 7:30 PM, I’ll be at the Rex Theatre in Manchester, NH with my co-host for the evening, Corinne Benfield from StayWorkPlay NH.

Joining us will be Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander + Steve Turner & Shana Brunye from Bring Back the Trades!

All of these amazing people have been on the show, but I wanted to bring them back together in front of a live audience for a conversation about how we can build a better future.

Many thanks to Granite Goodness alum and friend of the pod Amanda Grappone for sponsoring this evening! And to my friends Sneaky Miles (their song “Suzie” opens every episode of Granite Goodness) for being willing to come and open our live show.

Tickets here! (student discount available)

Official description:

For the first time ever, the award-winning podcast highlighting problem-solving and progress across New England comes to The Rex Theatre for an evening of optimism.

If the state of the world has you down, this show is for you. Watch 5 local changemakers take the stage to discuss the solutions that will drive our region forward and shine a light on everything that’s going right.

Join co-hosts Andy DeMeo (Granite Goodness) and Corinne Benfield (Stay Work Play NH) in conversation with Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander and Steve Turner & Shana Brunye (Bring Back the Trades). Together, they’ll lead a forward-looking discussion on building a better future for New Hampshire, creating opportunities for the next generation, and revitalizing American industry.

Presented by Grappone Automotive, the night will kick off with a live performance by local indie-folk sensation Sneaky Miles.

Come join us for an unforgettable night and meet fellow local optimists. Hope to see you there! There are so many of you I have yet to meet!

We will return next week with some more interviews and good news across New England.

-Andy

This episode was recorded at the Seacoast Eat Local offices in Lee, NH on June 12, 2025.

Learn more about Seacoast Eat Local at seacoasteatlocal.org

A big thank you to my friend Amanda Grappone and the team at Grappone Automotive for sponsoring this podcast!

This episode is shared in partnership with our friends at NH Rocks!

Music provided by Sneaky Miles