Doulas + storm prep + falling overdoses + eco-ed + record housing + smart grids
New England Good News #6
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.
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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.
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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