Ancestral lands + geothermal networks + skull growth + community loans + building booms
New England Good News #7
Welcome to the Good News in New England Newsletter, part of Granite Goodness. We share optimistic stories of progress, innovation, and problem-solving from across New England. Based in New Hampshire, our ethos is simple: substance + optimism = granite and good.
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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.
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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 Fix The News, The Progress Network, 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
Growing Skulls is the best kind of clickbait. I stared at it, "...growing SKULLS. GROWING skulls. Wh...gotta go find out what that means" (I was gonna anyway, but still)