Good News in New Hampshire Newsletter #13 - Name a Plow
Plus: small mammals, sustainable seafood, metals manufacturing, immigrant economics, affordable apartments, interstellar probes, biotech opportunities, 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 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
$3M awarded to UNH to develop international sustainable seafood program
UNH is launching an international seafood production program with a $3 million gift to help students develop aquaculture approaches tailored to their communities. Part of UNH’s Center for Sustainable Seafood Systems, the program aims to address food sustainability amid climate change, particularly as the rapidly warming Gulf of Maine threatens local fisheries. - NH Bulletin
Community power expands to 20 new communities, saving them ~$1.4 million
In their most recent quarterly update, the Community Power Coalition of NH has announced that Community Power service now covers 75 communities across the state, representing ~170,000 customers. The 20 new communities are projected to save customers ~$1.4 million in their first four months of service. - Community Power Coalition of NH
~$1M awarded to NH for Merrimack River watershed protection
Nearly $1 million in federal funding is coming to New Hampshire for conservation work in the Merrimack River watershed as part of a $139 million coastal resilience grant program. The funds will support stream-crossing projects to restore habitats for native species like brook trout and American eel while mitigating flood risks. - NH Business Review
SELT conserves 28-acre Brentwood property for wildlife and farming
SELT has completed the conservation of the 28-acre Fuller property in Brentwood, ensuring its protection for wildlife connectivity and future farming. Funded by the Town of Brentwood, SELT donors, and grants, the easement includes an option to purchase at agricultural value to keep the land actively farmed. - SELT
UNH research highlights understudied small mammals in conservation science
A UNH study analyzing over 70,000 scientific publications found that larger, more charismatic mammals receive disproportionate research attention. Researchers emphasize the need for more balanced wildlife research, leveraging modern tools such as camera traps and environmental DNA to fill knowledge gaps and improve conservation efforts. - UNH Today
GRANITE GRIT - Building & Infrastructure
Keene Receives $1.8M Grant for Solar-Powered Pavilion
Keene has been awarded nearly $1.8 million through the Timber for Transit grant to help fund a $2 million solar-powered pavilion on Gilbo Avenue as part of a larger downtown infrastructure project beginning in 2026. The 230-by-30-foot pavilion will feature 120 solar panels to power downtown lighting and events, while also serving as a flexible space for parking and community gatherings like food truck festivals. - NH Business Review
Portsmouth plans 127-unit workforce housing project at former school site
Portsmouth is proceeding with a 127-unit workforce housing project on the former Sherburne School site, led by the Portsmouth Housing Authority (PHA). The redevelopment will include eight one-bedroom apartments inside the historic school and 119 additional units in two new buildings, aiming to provide more affordable housing for residents being priced out of the city. - NH Business Review
Affordable housing project in Brookline moving forward
The project will include 58 senior housing units, 30 workforce housing units, and 10 market-rate units, alongside preserved open space and commercial development, marking a significant step toward addressing housing affordability in high-opportunity communities. - Union Leader
123 affordable apartment units in Concord near completion
The Pembroke Road Apartments Phase 2 in Concord is nearing completion, adding 84 new units to the 123-unit development by Tamposi Brothers Holdings LLC. Supported by a $3 million InvestNH grant and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, the project aims to alleviate New Hampshire’s housing crisis, with many units designated for income-restricted tenants. - Concord Monitor
GRANITE GROWTH - Economy & Workforce
Innovative metallurgy firm to open facility in Exeter
Massachusetts-based Phoenix Tailings plans to open a first-of-its-kind metal production facility in Exeter, NH, aiming for waste-free processing of critical minerals used in electric vehicles and defense technology. The company intends to produce 200 tons of metals annually, hire around 30 employees initially, and move critical metals manufacturing to the U.S. - NHPR
Report finds that immigrants make up 7% of NH workforce, provide key economic strengths
Foreign-born workers make up nearly 7% of New Hampshire’s workforce, including 61% who are naturalized citizens, and they participate in the labor force at a higher rate than U.S.-born residents. A state report highlights that between 2013 and 2023, immigration brought 62,600 residents to New Hampshire, helping to offset an aging workforce. - NH Business Review
$8.7 million awarded to towns across NH for economic development
Thirteen projects across New Hampshire will receive $8.7 million in grants from the Northern Border Regional Commission’s Catalyst program to support rural economic development. Major recipients include $1 million each for a new residential substance use treatment facility in Lebanon, a childcare center in Gorham, and accessible trails in Conway. - NH Department of Business & Economic Affairs
GRANITE GADGETS - Science & Innovation
New Hampshire removes PFAS from firefighting foam in pioneering cleanup effort
New Hampshire collected and sent 11,017 gallons of PFAS-contaminated firefighting foam to Ohio, where Revive Environmental used its "PFAS Annihilator" process to eliminate harmful chemicals through supercritical water oxidation. The treated water is now undergoing testing at Battelle’s Massachusetts lab, with results expected soon, as the state evaluates the effectiveness of this first-of-its-kind PFAS removal effort. - NH Business Review
UNH interstellar probe to be launched in 2025 mission
UNH’s IMAP-Lo instrument has been installed on NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) spacecraft, launching in 2025. It will help scientists study how the sun interacts with space by measuring particles from the galaxy and mapping the heliosphere, the protective bubble around our solar system. - UNH Today
UNH researchers use AI to analyze 700 million aurora images
UNH scientists have developed AI tools to categorize 700 million aurora borealis images from NASA’s THEMIS data set, improving our ability to study and predict geomagnetic storms. This massive database, collected over 18 years, will help researchers better understand how solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetosphere, protecting critical communications and infrastructure. - UNH Today
Prestigious R1 research classification retained by UNH
The University of New Hampshire has maintained its R1 classification for the highest research activity, reaffirming its position among the nation’s top research universities. With $252 million in external funding, over 1,000 active research projects, and 79 doctoral degrees awarded in 2024, UNH continues to drive innovation and economic impact in New Hampshire and beyond. - UNH Today
GRANITE GRADUATES - Education
NH-LIFT launches seed grant programs to boost research collaboration
The NH-LIFT project, a four-year initiative funded by the National Science Foundation's EPSCoR program, aims to strengthen New Hampshire’s research ecosystem and economy through collaboration and innovation. As part of this effort, NH-LIFT is offering Collaboration Seed Grants to foster partnerships among faculty and industry and Catalyst Seed Grants to support graduate students in conducting early-stage research for multi-institutional projects. - EPSCoR New Hampshire
NH online education programs receive national recognition
UNH’s online programs were nationally ranked in the 2025 U.S. News Best Online Programs, with the College of Professional Studies earning the top-ranked online bachelor’s program in NH for the 13th year and ranking No. 51 nationally. The Paul College online MBA program was ranked No. 1 in NH, top five in New England, and No. 55 nationally, with both programs also receiving recognition for their support of veterans. - UNH Today
UNH and Lonza launch new program to support life sciences careers
The University of New Hampshire and Lonza Biologics, Inc. have established the Lonza Scholars Program, providing annual scholarships to four outstanding first-year students majoring in biology, biochemistry, or bioengineering, with up to 16 scholars supported by 2028. Scholars will gain mentorship, site visits, and career opportunities, strengthening workforce development in New Hampshire’s life sciences industry. - UNH Today
GRANITE GREATNESS: Human Interest & Our Favorite Stories
NH Department of Transportation announces winners of “Name A Plow” contest
The NHDOT received over 3,000 votes in its annual "Name A Plow Contest," selecting seven winning names for 2025. Among the favorites were “Ctrl-Salt-Delete”, “Live Free and Plow”, “Adam Sander”, “6 Snow 3”, and "Fritz Plowerbee." The winning names are set to appear on plows across the state this winter. - WMUR
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
Love the snow plow names, especially Fritz Plowerbee. Still pondering after all these years, can’t imagine Fritz retiring.