Good News in New Hampshire Newsletter #12 - Kid Governor
Plus: EV charging stations, plankton carbon sinks, food waste, nature-based solutions, food pantries, rural broadband, 100 new degree pathways, small business, and more!
Hello! Welcome to the Good News in New Hampshire Newsletter, part of Granite Goodness. We share stories of progress, solutions and positivity in and around New Hampshire.
My name is Andy DeMeo. I’ve lived in New Hampshire all my life.
At Granite Goodness we believe that being aware of progress and positivity 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!
GRANITE GREENERY - Sustainability & Environment
NH wins $15 million for EV charging infrastructure
The New Hampshire Department of Transportation will receive $15 million to expand public EV charging infrastructure statewide, enhancing access in both urban and rural areas. The project will install 199 charging ports across nine regions, supporting the state’s transition to electric vehicles and promoting sustainable transportation. - US Dept. of Transportation
UNH to help design nature based solutions for marginalized communities
UNH is leading a $6 million project, Equitable Nature-based Climate Solutions (ENACTS), to develop Nature-based Solutions (NBS) for climate resilience in medium-sized cities like Manchester, which will serve as one of the project’s key hubs. ENACTS will engage local communities to design socially equitable strategies—such as tree programs, public parks, and stormwater controls—aimed at addressing climate-related flooding and heat island effects. - UNH Today
NH makes progress in food waste reduction
Starting February 1, New Hampshire will implement a groundbreaking food waste law aimed at reducing landfill use, cutting methane emissions, and providing new opportunities for food recovery, composting, and job creation. The law requires facilities generating over a ton of food waste weekly to redirect it to recovery or processing facilities, supported by a $500,000 grant program and infrastructure development, with the goal of cutting solid waste disposal by 25% by 2030 and 45% by 2050. - NH Bulletin
Shout out to Granite Goodness guest Tom Irwin, who wrote this article!
UNH earns highest possible sustainability ranking for 3rd year in a row
The University of New Hampshire (UNH) earned a platinum rating from AASHE’s STARS program, making it one of only eight U.S. institutions and the only one in New England to achieve this top sustainability status. UNH’s efforts include sustainability courses in 90% of departments, research in 84% of areas, and initiatives like thermal energy storage and sustainable dining. - University of New Hampshire
Shout out to Granite Goodness guests Fiona Wilson and Dovev Levine, who lead and support UNH’s sustainability work
Millions in federal funds assist NH energy efficiency and emission reduction measures
U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen celebrated the allocation of $70 million in federal funding from the Inflation Reduction Act to New Hampshire, part of a total $150 million secured for energy efficiency and clean energy programs in the state. These funds will help Granite Staters lower home energy costs through initiatives like home energy rebates, weatherization for low-income households, heat pump adoption, and solar programs, while also supporting workforce training and grid resilience projects. - Senator Jeanne Shaheen
GRANITE GRIT - Building & Infrastructure
Executive Council allocates $50 million for new manufacturing facility
The New Hampshire Executive Council approved a $50 million bond to support GreenSource Fabrication’s new manufacturing facility in Charlestown, which will produce sustainable Ultra High-Density Interconnect (UHDI) printed circuit boards and create up to 100 new jobs. - NH Business Finance Authority
State expansion of broadband reaches 60% completion
New Hampshire’s $90 million broadband expansion plan has surpassed the halfway mark, with 28,000 of 48,000 targeted addresses now having access to high-speed internet, according to the Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA). - Broadband Communities
Laconia proposes 2,000 new home development
The proposed Laconia Village development would add 2,000 homes and approximately 3,500 residents over a decade, significantly expanding the city’s population and economic potential. - Laconia Daily Sun
Northern Forest Center provides innovative solutions for rural middle-income housing
Through innovative investments and redevelopment projects, like restoring Lancaster, NH's Parker J. Noyes building and creating affordable middle-class housing, the center is fostering vibrant, sustainable communities while attracting workers, families, and new economic opportunities to the region. - Daily Yonder
White Birch Center to be purchased and renovated as permanent home for regional food pantry
Merrimack County Savings Bank has contributed $50,000 through CDFA tax credits to support the expansion of the White Birch Center in Henniker, NH, enabling the purchase and renovation of a new building at 116 Main St. This project will expand access to affordable child care, add spaces for community services like senior and teen programming, and create a permanent home for the Henniker Food Pantry, enhancing vital resources for the region. - Patch.com
GRANITE GROWTH - Economy & Workforce
NH moves up 7 spots in Uhaul’s “Growth States” ranking
The U-Haul Growth Index for 2024— an indicator of which states are experiencing resident inflows or outflows— shows New Hampshire moving from 40th to 33rd, bucking the northeast trend of decreases in the rankings. - UHaul
NH population increases 2.3% since 2020
New Hampshire’s population has grown by 31,486 since 2020, fueled by nearly 30,000 new residents from other states, primarily Massachusetts, and 11,000 international immigrants. This positive migration trend brings exciting opportunities for growth in housing, the labor force, and school districts. - WMUR
New report highlights the strength & diversity of small business in NH’s economy
A recent report from the NH Community Development Finance Authority states that “small businesses” comprise 99% of all NH businesses, with 49.8% of NH’s workforce being employed by small business. A growing share of these businesses are run by nonwhite or LGBT individuals. - NH Community Navigator
State universities ease degree pathways, saving students time and money
New Hampshire's public higher education systems have introduced over 100 streamlined pathways to help community college students transition seamlessly into bachelor’s degree programs at Keene State College, Plymouth State University, and the University of New Hampshire. This collaboration between CCSNH and USNH aims to reduce costs, minimize debt, and strengthen the state’s workforce by offering affordable, accessible, and well-supported educational opportunities for residents. - Seacoast Online
GRANITE GADGETS - Science & Innovation
UNH external research funding grows to $242 million
The University of New Hampshire's competitive research funding reached $252 million in fiscal year 2024, marking a $42 million increase from the previous year and more than doubling since 2019. This funding supports nearly 1,000 projects, tackling critical issues like ocean energy, agroforestry, tick-borne diseases, and space sustainability, while enhancing education, driving innovation, and maintaining UNH's prestigious Carnegie R1 research university status. - UNH Today
Laconia based company works with UNH to build model for space weather
Scientists at the University of New Hampshire and Rogue Space Systems in Laconia are collaborating to develop an advanced model to predict space weather by tracking electron flux levels in radiation belts, aiming to protect satellites and spacecraft from damage. - WMUR
Plymouth State University awarded grant to study seasonal snow
Plymouth State University has received a $192,000 NOAA grant to develop the nation’s first Snow Drought Index, analyzing nearly a century of Northeast snowpack data to better understand climate change’s impact on winter precipitation and related disasters. - Plymouth State University
Dartmouth researchers study plankton’s potential as a carbon sink
Dartmouth professor Mukul Sharma is testing a new way to fight climate change by adding clay dust to the ocean to boost its carbon storage. Early experiments show clay helps trap carbon from tiny plants, sinking it to the ocean’s depths for long-term storage, with more research planned to study its potential and safety. - NH Public Radio
GRANITE GREATNESS: Human Interest & Our Favorite Stories
New Hampshire to inaugurate newest “Kid Governor”
New Hampshire’s newly elected Kid Governor, 10-year-old Jade Adams from Harrisville, will be sworn in on January 28, alongside her Kid Executive Council. Jade’s platform focuses on banning animal testing in New Hampshire, with a three-point plan to promote cruelty-free products, organize a letter-writing campaign, and educate students statewide about animal cruelty. She credits her teacher, classmates, and family for supporting her campaign and looks forward to improving her public speaking and making a difference for animals. - NHPR
Shoutout to Granite Goodness guest Allyson Ryder, who helps support the Kid Governor program through NH Civics!
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, Linkedin, and Facebook.
If you are hungry for other stories of progress, innovation, and 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
