Good News in New Hampshire Newsletter #8 - New Americans

Plus: household incomes, healthy bones in space, higher-ed sustainability, ocean tech, rural healthcare, Martian water, contentious beavers, shipyard economics, and more!

Hello! Welcome to the Good News in New Hampshire Newsletter, part of Granite Goodness.

We share stories of progress and positivity in New Hampshire.

My name is Andy DeMeo. I’ve lived in NH all my life. Granite Goodness is my love letter to this extraordinary state.

At Granite Goodness we believe that being aware of positivity and progress leaves people more inspired to create their own. Optimism, kindness, and the will to solve complex problems are infectious qualities.

Also, being an optimist is just more fun.

As a general rule, this newsletter aims to include stories that fit the following criteria:

• The story is in or about New Hampshire

• The story is about something bigger than singular acts of kindness

• The story is about something good— people building, creating, or doing things that improve the world and reduce suffering

Just think- as long as it’s good and New Hampshire sized, it belongs here! If you have any story tips, let us know at hello@granitegoodness.com.

For more personal stories about progress in New Hampshire, make sure to check our podcast, Granite Goodness, available anywhere.

Enjoy!

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GRANITE GREENERY - Sustainability & Environment

Jason Plant, Executive Chairman of Hydrophos Solutions, one of the startups chosen for Blueswell, courtesy photo

• NH startups with ocean-applicable tech selected to receive funding

  • Blueswell—a collaboration between SeaAhead, Inc and the New England Aquarium, will help the young NH startups develop their products. - NHPR

• University of New Hampshire retains ranking as elite sustainability campus

  • AASHE’s Sustainable Campus Index recognizes top-performing colleges and universities across 17 sustainability impact areas. - UNH

• Dartmouth College buildings receive recognition for sustainability efforts

  • The buildings incorporate passive solar, natural ventilation, rooftop solar, radiant heat, energy efficient windows, and other features. - Dartmouth

• NH brook restoration project blossoms into case study on regional collaboration

  • What started as a small project to restore a small section of stream eventually involved multiple organizations and a lot of community. Check out environmental journalism at its finest! - Daily Yonder

GRANITE GOVERNING - Politics & Governance

“Powwow Pond, Kingston NH”, by John Phelan, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0

• NH Fish and Game hires first female executive director in its history

  • Stephanie Simek’s directorship was unanimously supported by the Fish and Game Commission. During her hearing, Simek highlighted her 30 year record of finding common ground with diverse stakeholders— including beavers— who Simek said could be “very contentious.” - NH Bulletin

• NBRC awards $750k to rural NH communities to improve healthcare access

  • Recipients include organizations in the towns of Littleton, Ammonoosuc, & Laconia - Northern Border Regional Commission

• Manchester awarded $3.7 million to hire and retain firefighters

  • The funds come from a FEMA program to help ensure adequate emergency personnel - Manchester Inklink

GRANITE GRIT - Building & Infrastructure

”USDA Utility Workers”, by Jay Pinsky, USDA, licensed under PDM 1.0

• Company awarded $8.5 million to expand rural internet access in New England

  • The NH communities served include Alton, Bridgewater, Canaan, Cornish, Enfield, Plainfield and five of the islands in Gilford - NH Business Review

• New Hillsborough RV park aims to attract camping & tourism

  • 45 years ago, Kevin McCauley purchased 150 acres of forest in Hillsborough. He’s spent years turning it into a one of a kind RV and nature park that he hopes will help revitalize the area. - Concord Monitor

• 40 unit affordable housing development opens in Conway

  • River Turn Apartments is Avesta Housing’s first project in the Mount Washington Valley. - Avesta Housing

• Keene transforming old school into affordable housing

  • Keene Housing recently began work on rehabbing the old Roosevelt School into 30 units, supplementing local affordable housing stock. - Keene Sentinel

GRANITE GROWTH - Economy & Workforce

“Roadside Colors”, by Ron Reiring, licensed under CC BY 2.0

• Promising Fall Tourism Season Expected in New Hampshire

  • NH expects 3.7 million visitors to spend ~$1.8 billion this fall. - NHDBEA

• NH household median income increased in 2023

  • 2023 data shows median household income returning to 2021 levels. - NHFPI

• Recent study corroborates positive impact of new housing on school systems

  • The study showed higher density housing as generating more net benefits than single family housing. - NHHFA

• Portsmouth Naval Shipyard injects record $1.54 billion into regional economy

  • From 2022 to 2023, the number of civilian employees increased by ~100 to 7,469 and payroll increased 8% to $716.2 million - Mainebiz

GRANITE GADGETS - Science & Innovation

“SpaceX Extravehicular Activity (EVA) suit”, by Polaris Program Photos, licensed under CC-BY-NC-ND 2.0

• Researchers at Dartmouth College studying health of SpaceX mission crew

  • Former astronaut & Dartmouth Professor Jay Buckey helps a research team monitor the bone health of the Polaris Dawn crew, which can be compromised by microgravity. -WMUR

• Dartmouth College research suggests filtration potential for molecular tech

  • Research done by professor Ivan Aprahamian shows a proof of concept for a synthetic receptor capable of converting light into chemical energy, which could remove contaminants at a very small scale. - Dartmouth

• Dartmouth College scientists study history of Martian ice caps

  • Researchers are using satellite imagery to understand the potential application of Martian ice caps as a water source. - Dartmouth

GRANITE GRADUATES - Education

“Moore Hall - Dartmouth College”, by Daderot, licensed under CCO 1.0

• Dartmouth College investing $500 million into new housing

  • The college recently unveiled a large investment into new campus housing, hoping to add at least 1,000 beds within the decade. - Dartmouth

• NH leans on local control to find solutions for smartphones in schools

  • More transparent, collaborative policies are being tested and finding initial success across the state. - Concord Monitor

• UNH launches new research initiative focused on early childhood education

  • The Carsey School recently unveiled a new effort to engage stakeholders in research on ECE in the Granite State. - UNH Carsey School of Public Policy

GRANITE GREATNESS: Human Interest & Our Favorite Stories

“NH State House", by cmh2315fl, licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

• Concord man from Rwanda helps immigrants find their paths

  • Jean Hakuzimana grew up in Rwanda and in 2018 moved the United States— specifically Concord New Hampshire. Since then, Hakuzimana has been devoted to helping other immigrants find community and work through his organization, NH Songa. In a recent interview, Hakuzimana said “I think New Hampshire is a good state to keep exploring being welcoming to refugees and New Americans from around the world.” - Concord Monitor

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That’s it for this edition of the Good News in New Hampshire Newsletter. This newsletter is free and shareable to anyone anywhere. We also post on Instagram and Linkedin.

If you are hungry for good news beyond the borders of the Granite State, I encourage you to check out our friends at Fix the News or the Progress Network.

Thanks for reading!

-Andy