Good News in New Hampshire Newsletter #17 - Envision Town
Plus: solar and conservation wins, clean air, overdose declines, child care aid, land use reform, dementia care, plastic-eating bacteria, future visions, labor markets, 40 years of impact and more!
Hello! Welcome to the Good News in New Hampshire Newsletter, part of Granite Goodness. We share stories of problem solving, innovation, and progress 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 and problem solving in New Hampshire, make sure to check our podcast, Granite Goodness, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube, and everywhere else.
Enjoy!
GRANITE GREENERY - Sustainability & Environment
New Group Solar Project to Expand Renewable Energy for NH Communities
A new 5-megawatt solar project in Warner, NH—developed by Encore Renewable Energy and supported by the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH)—will provide clean, low-cost electricity to public entities through the state's group net metering program. Set to go live in mid-2026, the Poverty Plains Solar array will generate enough power for roughly 1,000 homes, offering municipalities, schools, and other public entities real savings and access to renewable energy with no upfront cost. - Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire
Portsmouth Moves to Protect Drinking Water with $1.47M Easement
Portsmouth will acquire a conservation easement on 44.6 acres near the Bellamy Reservoir, the city’s largest drinking water source, to prevent development and protect water quality from runoff contamination. Backed by state and federal grants totaling $1.48 million, the project could come at no cost to the city and has strong support from local leaders, clean water advocates, and the community. – Portsmouth Herald
New Hampshire Counties Among Cleanest in U.S. for Air Pollution
Hillsborough, Belknap, and Grafton counties ranked among the cleanest in the nation for air quality in the American Lung Association’s 2025 “State of the Air” report. With no high ozone days in Belknap and Grafton and consistently low pollution levels across the state, New Hampshire continues to be a leader in clean air.
– Patch News
GRANITE GRIT - Building & Infrastructure
Nashua Aims to Finalize New Land Use Code by End of 2025
Nashua is on track to adopt a new land use code by the end of 2025, aligning zoning regulations with the city’s Imagine Nashua Master Plan to support mixed-use, transit-accessible, and sustainable development. The update includes modernizing affordable housing ordinances, expanding developer incentives, and launching new initiatives like a landlord incentive program to build trust with voucher-holding tenants and increase access to stable housing. – Nashua Ink Link
Monadnock Transportation Group Expands Access and Safety Through Local Initiatives
The Monadnock Alliance for Sustainable Transportation (MAST) is working to improve access, equity, and safety in rural transportation across the region by promoting complete streets policies, offering grant funding, and organizing public engagement campaigns. Since 2017, MAST has funded 18 projects in 12 communities and is preparing a new round of Complete Streets grants for 2025, along with events like CommuteSmart NH’s Spring Challenge and National Bike Month to further support sustainable mobility. – Monadnock Ledger-Transcript
New Derry Facility Offers Shelter and Support for Families in Crisis
Family Promise has opened a 17,000-square-foot facility in Derry with space to house eight families and an on-site manager, providing not only shelter but access to case management and essential resources. Thanks in part to a $100,000 donation from M&T Bank, the new site helps families like the Koles, who faced hardship during the pandemic, find stability and a second chance. – WMUR
GRANITE GROWTH - Economy & Workforce
NH Small Business Development Center Celebrates 40 Years of Impact
In 2024, the NH Small Business Development Center (SBDC) marked its 40th anniversary with a banner year of success, supporting access to $15.8 million in new capital and sustaining 6,500 jobs. With a total economic impact of $254.6 million, SBDC continues to fuel New Hampshire’s small business growth through personalized guidance, statewide partnerships, and innovative programs. – NH SBDC
New Hampshire Maintains Low Unemployment Rate Amid National Trends
New Hampshire reported a 3.0% unemployment rate in February 2025—well below the national average of 4.1%—with about 754,500 residents employed across key sectors like tech, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing. Despite a slight uptick from previous months, the state’s strong job market and business-friendly policies continue to support economic stability. – Let’s Move to NH
State Opens Assistance Program for NH Child Care Workers
A new six-month pilot program in New Hampshire offers tuition assistance to child care workers who earn too much for existing subsidies but still struggle to afford care, capping costs at 7% of household income. The initiative could benefit up to 200 workers and aims to ease workforce shortages while helping more parents return to work. – NHPR
GRANITE GADGETS - Science & Innovation
Ten New Members Join NH Life Sciences, Boosting Innovation and Collaboration
NH Life Sciences (NHLS) announced the addition of ten new members, including Celdara Medical, Mascoma LLC, 3X Genetics, Upstart Sciences, and Sunrise Labs. Associate members joining the association include Park Street Strategies, Sullivan Construction, Safety Partners, Elliott Controls, and Plymouth State University. The expansion reflects NHLS’s growing role in making New Hampshire a national hub for medical innovation, workforce development, and patient-centered research. – NH Life Sciences
UNH Researchers Probe How Plastic-Eating Bacteria Impact Ocean Carbon Storage
UNH scientists are joining a $665,899 NSF-funded project to study how bacteria feeding on carbon from ocean plastics may disrupt nutrient cycles and weaken the ocean’s ability to store carbon. The team will conduct fieldwork in nutrient-poor gyres and model impacts on the marine food web. – UNH
Dartmouth Researchers Tie Corporate Emissions to Real-World Climate Costs
A new Nature study led by Dartmouth’s Justin Mankin presents the first framework to link specific climate damages—like heat-related economic losses—to emissions from individual fossil fuel companies. The method, based on climate attribution science, helps courts assess liability by comparing today’s climate to a world without those emissions. – Dartmouth News
GRANITE GRATITUDE - Nonprofits & Public Sector
Manchester Sees Sharp Drop in Overdose Rates, Projecting Lowest in a Decade
Mayor Jay Ruais announced that Manchester is on track for a 49% drop in suspected overdoses and a 51% decline in suspected overdose deaths this year—potentially the lowest levels since the start of the opioid epidemic. Officials credit coordinated efforts among public health teams, first responders, and community partners. – City of Manchester
Adult Day Center Gets $20K for Dementia Care Program
The Mt. Washington Valley Adult Day Center in Conway has received a $20,000 grant from the Endowment for Health to support its participation in the federal GUIDE program, an eight-year trial aimed at improving dementia care. One of just three New Hampshire organizations chosen, the center will expand its services from 35 to 62 communities, offering care coordination, caregiver support, and education across a larger rural population. – Conway Daily Sun
Housing Support Expands for Monadnock Families
Keene Housing’s Homes for School program, which helps families with young children secure affordable housing, has expanded to Mount Caesar Elementary. The initiative has already housed 17 families in Keene and now supports several in the Monadnock Region, offering rent assistance, stability, and guidance toward long-term goals. – The Keene Sentinel
GRANITE GREATNESS: Human Interest & Our Favorite Stories
Keene State Architecture Students Help Envision Peterborough’s Future
As part of the Envision Town Challenge, Keene State architecture students are designing potential affordable and mixed-use housing projects on key Peterborough sites, including Monadnock Plaza and the former IDG building. Their concepts—developed in partnership with local committees and property owners—will be showcased this spring, offering ideas that could inspire real development and help meet the town’s growing housing needs. – Monadnock Ledger-Transcript
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.
Thank you to:
Jeff McMenemy, The Portsmouth Herald
Tony Schinella, Patch News
Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire
Mya Blanchard, Nashua Iink Link
Isabel Litterst, WMUR
Lisa Carter, Let’s Move to NH
Annmarie Timmins, NHPR
Liz Gray, NH Small Business Development Center
Conway Daily Sun
NH Life Sciences
Rebecca Irelan, EOS, UNH
Morgan Kelly, Dartmouth College
Office of Mayor Jay Ruais, City of Manchester
Sophia Keshmiri, The Keene Sentinel
Keene Housing
Jesseca Timmons, Monadnock Ledger Transcript
For publishing great journalism or information about your work.
Thanks for reading!
-Andy
