Bank of New Hampshire purchased $20,000 in New Hampshire CDFA tax credits to support the redevelopment of the Gale School at 60 Concord Street in Belmont Village. The project will transform the historic schoolhouse into a community facility that will include on the first floor a new early learning center operated by the Boys & Girls Club.
 
“Our region has an immense need for high quality child care so more people can work and our economy can continue to grow,” said Tiffany Baert, Vice President, Marketing Officer for Bank of New Hampshire. “The Gale School project is a great combination of historic preservation and economic development. We are excited to be part of it.”
 
“We have a lot of families on our waiting list for child care,” said Chris Emond, President & CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Central New Hampshire. “The Gale School project presents a great opportunity for us to expand this critical service needed throughout the Lakes Region.”

To learn more about how your business can support this project, please visit https://www.lrcommunitydevelopers.org/gale-school-fundraising.html or contact Carmen Lorentz at (603) 524-0747 ext 110 or CLorentz@LRcommunitydevelopers.org. Thank you!

Please take some time and check out this important new study about the housing shortage in New Hampshire from The Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy. The study finds that residential building regulations, mostly at the local level, are a major cause of the state's housing shortage. Many Lakes Region towns are in the top 25 municipalities that have local conditions that make are restrictive to build new housing.

Visit https://jbartlett.org/2021/10/local-building-regulations-drive-n-h-housing-shortage-bartlett-study-shows/ to read more and to find a link to the full results of the study.

Democrats in Congress continue to negotiate over what to cut from the $3.5 trillion “Build Back Better Act” in order to make it palatable to moderate Democrats in the Senate, whose support is necessary in order to get the bill approved. Reports indicate that at least $1.5 trillion must be cut from the package in order for it to garner enough support to pass in the Senate. The bill approved by House committees included $327 billion in funding for a range of affordable housing provisions, which would represent an historic investment in housing. At the moment, it is unclear how the negotiations to cut the cost of the bill will affect the funding for housing. LRCD signed on to this letter to Congress urging them to maintain key provisions of the funding.

Finance Director and Asset Manager, Stuart La Salle, just reached the milestone of 15 years with the organization. 

Stuart has contributed so much to LRCD and it is impossible to capture it all but here are a few highlights of what Stuart has accomplished in his 15 years with the organization:

• 150 Audits Completed
• 150+ Property Budgets Created
• 125+ Times Stuart Shoveled Snow at Work or off Co-Workers Cars :)
• 15 Annual Operating Budgets Approved

We are grateful for his long and dedicated service.

During spring 2021, LRCD built a partnership with the YMCA of Greater Boston that enables LRCD kids ages 8-13 to attend their North Woods Camp for Boys or Pleasant Valley Camp for Girls in Tuftonboro at a 50% discount. In September, we co-hosted a Family Fun Day at the camps where LRCD families were able to experience the fun of camp for an afternoon. The children and their families got to tour the camps, swim, kayak, and try archery. As a result, we have 11 LRCD kids excited to go to camp in summer 2022.

Campers will learn outdoor skills, conquer fears and build confidence. They will gain problem-solving skills, boost socialization skills and self-esteem while learning about environmental and personal responsibility. We expect that through their camp experience, children will feel more empowered to make positive decisions as they grow, build life-long friendships with kids from different socio-economic backgrounds, and make lasting memories.

We are currently working to raise funds to cover the other 50% of their tuition, plus extra to help supply these kids of low-income with the things they need to bring to camp.  To date, we have raised enough funds for four scholarships thanks to the support of Winnies Socks, Franklin Savings Bank and the Heart & Hands Thrift Shop Meredith. If you'd like to support our summer camp scholarship program please contact Caitlin Meaney at cmeaney@lrcommunitydevelopers.org or at 603.524.0747 ext. 108

A recent graduate of the Take the Wheel NH program has been given the keys to her new car!

This full-time working mom of three entered the program this May diligently working through each program step and with the financial counselor. When her car broke down in September and it was not worth fixing she was ready to purchase a more reliable and affordable car.

LRCD continues to be grateful to the hard working and generous partners of this program, HOMEteamNH, Franklin Savings Bank, and Grappone Automotive Group. We are also grateful to the programs major funder, The Linden Family Foundation.

Study finds that synthetic chemical in consumer products linked to early death.
 
Human absorption of Phthalates has already been found to be disruptive of hormones, especially in males, and to have other negative side effects. This new study published in the peer-reviewed journal  of Environmental Pollution is now linking it to premature deaths.

Reducing your use and exposure to plastics that contain Phthalates can be good for your health and the health of the planet.

Here are tips to reduce you and your family's exposure to Phthalates:

• Use unscented lotions and laundry detergents.
• Use cleaning supplies without scents.
• Use glass, stainless steel, ceramic or wood to hold and store foods.
• Buy fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables instead of canned and processed versions.
• Encourage frequent hand washing to remove chemicals from hands.
• Avoid air fresheners
• Avoid all plastics labeled as No. 3, No. 6 and No. 7

For more information and the full article published by CNN go to https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/12/health/plastic-chemical-early-death-wellness/index.html

Wood & Clay, a local company that specializes in custom home construction and renovation in the Lakes Region, purchased $50,000 in New Hampshire business tax credits to support the redevelopment of the Gale School in Belmont. The project will transform the historic schoolhouse into a community facility that will include on the second floor a new program center for Lakes Region Community Services (LRCS).

Wood & Clay, based in Gilford, is owned by husband and wife team Kevin Beland and Shannon Robinson-Beland.

"We hope our contribution inspires other local businesses to support this wonderful project," said Shannon Robinson-Beland. "It's exciting that LRCS will be part of the next chapter for the Gale School - what a great way to put this historic building back to good use serving local families again."

"We had been thinking for a few years about opening a satellite program center," said Rebecca Bryant, President & CEO of LRCS. "The Gale School will be a great location for us - a place where we can offer our full range of programming to new families and to existing clients who will find it more convenient."

To learn more about how your business can support this project, please visit https://www.lrcommunitydevelopers.org/gale-school-fundraising.html or contact Carmen Lorentz at (603) 524-0747 ext 110 or CLorentz@LRcommunitydevelopers.org. Thank you!

Have you noticed our new signs when driving around the Lakes Region? LRCD's Asset Management team has been busy updating property signs to ensure they are visible, consistent, and recognizable as a LRCD property.

The New Hampshire Food Bank provided groceries to residents who are not currently able to meet some of their basic needs such as food. LRCD's Resident Services Coordinators continue to work with residents to ensure they are able to access the supports they need. Thank you New Hampshire Food Bank!

LRCD works with residents to meet their neighbors and empower them to plan community activities. Two Communities hosted end of the summer barbecues that included food, games, face painting, meeting local law enforcement and lots of fun for residents of all ages!

The Youth Assistance Program in Tilton and the St. Vincent De Paul Society made sure our young residents in Tilton were ready to go back to school. They donated backpacks and various school supplies. LRCD is grateful to local organizations that help our residents thrive!

We do accept Housing Choice Vouchers at some of our rental properties (also known as Section 8 vouchers because they are under Section 8 of the federal Housing Act of 1937). The Housing Choice Voucher Program provides "tenant-based" rental assistance that can be used at any apartment where the landlord accepts the voucher. Individuals or families with a voucher find and lease an apartment and pay a portion of the rent, typically an amount that equals 30% of their income. Most Housing Choice Vouchers are issued to “extremely low-income” families as defined by HUD. In Belknap County, a family of four must have less than $26,500 in annual income to qualify as “extremely low-income.” Approximately 20% of our rental units are occupied by families with Housing Choice Vouchers.
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Another 40% of our units are subsidized by a different rental assistance program offered to rural communities by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Unlike the Housing Choice Voucher, USDA rental assistance is tied to the apartment. Families living in a unit with USDA rental assistance pay 30% of their income in rent. These apartments must be occupied by families who are defined by USDA as “very low-income” (less than $43,250 for a family of four in Belknap County) or “low-income” (less than $69,200 for a family of four).

For more general information about the State of New Hampshire's Housing Choice Voucher Program you can visit https://www.nhhfa.org/rental-assistance/housing-choice-voucher-program/faq/

Franklin Savings Bank purchased $50,000 in New Hampshire business tax credits to support the redevelopment of the Gale School in Belmont.

"We are thrilled to support the redevelopment of the Gale School," said Ron Magoon, President of Franklin Savings Bank. "The family supports that will be offered in the renovated space are critical to the health of our local economy. We also love the collaboration between these three long-standing organizations that serve our region so well."

The project will transform the dilapidated historic building into a vibrant community facility hosting a child care center operated by the Boys & Girls Club of Central NH and a program center operated by Lakes Region Community Services (LRCS).

Construction could begin as early as next year if fundraising is successful. LRCD must sell $574,000 more in tax credits to move ahead with construction.

"This project is very exciting," said Carmen Lorentz, LRCD's Executive Director. "We are so grateful to Franklin Savings Bank for their support. Lots of people have worked incredibly hard over decades to save the Gale School and bring it back to life to serve the community again. It's humbling to be part of this effort."

To learn more about how your business can support this project, please visit www.lrcommunitydevelopers.org/gale-school-fundraising.html or contact Carmen Lorentz at (603) 524-0747 ext 110 or CLorentz@LRcommunitydevelopers.org Thank you!

Congressman Chris Pappas came to Harriman Hill in Wolfeboro on August 4th. He was visiting Wolfeboro while on recess and made several stops to see infrastructure and economic development projects in town. His office specifically asked for a tour of Harriman Hill so he could see some workforce housing in person.

LRCD launched its Adult Dental Assistance program approximately one year ago. To date we have given out $7,137.25 in dental grants to 16 of our residents.

"I would describe it as a livesaver," said a recent recipient of a dental grant when asked about the program. "I have gained more confidence back. I have been in recovery for over 3 years now from substance use disorder and I had many failed attempts with getting my teeth properly cared for, it always cost way more than I could afford. Thanks to LRCD I have my smile back!"

The Dental Assistance Program provides an annual dental resource guide, executes an annual campaign about NH Medicaid's dental options, and helps residents access the dental care they need by assisting them gain access to dental programs, finding a dentist, and providing financial assistance. Grants cover half of the cost of the dental procedure up to $1,000, the average grant is $420.

An employee of a local dental provider recently reached out to LRCD stating that she was amazed that someone took an interest in addressing this need and went about finding a way to help. At first she the thought the resident was making it up because she "couldn't imagine a landlord helping with dental costs!".

This program would not be possible without the generous funding from NeighborWorks America, Northeast Delta Dental, and Speare Memorial Hospital - Community Health Grant.

The community gardens at our various properties are thriving. Residents are working in the gardens and enjoying the fruits or vegetables of their labor. One property even has a community garden day each week and they share the produce with other residents.

In October 2020, LRCD formed a Race Equity Diversity inclusion or REDI Committee. The Committee is comprised of LRCD staff, board members, and an LRCD resident. As a committee we meet monthly to identify tasks and changes that can be made to combat systemic racism and promote race equity, diversity, and inclusion.

A task recently taken on by the committee was to provide more resources on race equity, diversity, and inclusion to LRCD residents. To accomplish this the REDI Committee created additional pages on our website where residents can go to access a variety of resources on the topics of Raising Multi-Racial Children, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, & People of Color), LGBTQ+, Racial Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, and Disabilities. Resources include local service providers, books, films, podcasts, and more. Resources will continue to be added and updated as we continue to learn. To see the resources collected visit www.lrcommunitydevelopers.org/residentresources.html

The New Hampshire Council on Housing Stability was established by Governor Sununu in November 2020. The Council was tasked with providing short- and long-term recommendations to address the housing crisis in New Hampshire. The Council just released its first strategic plan for the years 2021-2024, which includes an overarching goal of increasing the number of housing units in New Hampshire by 13,500 by 2024. You can read the strategic plan here.

The 2021 state legislative session was a mixed bag for housing and community development issues. On the one hand, we are celebrating a record $35 million investment into the state's Affordable Housing Fund in the 2022-23 state budget. This is, by far, the most state funding dedicated to housing since the Fund's inception in 1988. Investing state funds in housing is critical to meet local needs that federal housing programs do not address, particularly the development of affordable starter homes, but also to stretch federal funds even further to produce more rental units. We look forward to learning more details about how New Hampshire Housing plans to use this increased state funding to spur development of new homes for New Hampshire residents.

While new state funding is excellent news, unfortunately there were several policy proposals that housing advocates worked on for the past few years which were not approved. The "Housing Toolbox Bill" (HB 586) would have enabled municipalities to use Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to build infrastructure for residential development, which could have been a game changer for communities who want more housing but have limited infrastructure. Here in the Lakes Region, the lack of water & sewer infrastructure is one of the biggest constraints in developing homes for essential workers.

In addition, the Toolbox bill would have improved the predictability of the local approvals process and established a new "Housing Champion" certification program that provides financial incentives for towns and cities to facilitate the development of workforce housing. The Toolbox bill was reported out of committee with an Ought to Pass recommendation, but it encountered vocal opposition from a small contingent of representatives during floor debate in the House. It was tabled and ultimately not reconsidered before the legislative session ended.

The Gale School Redevelopment project will transform the dilapidated School in Belmont into a vibrant community facility hosting a childcare center operated by the Boys & Girls Club of Central NH and a program center operated by Lakes Region Community Services (LRCS). The childcare center will add 60 new childcare slots to the Lakes Region. The LRCS Program Center will serve over 100 families.

To learn more about how your business can support this project, please visit www.lrcommunitydevelopers.org/gale-school-fundraising.html or contact Carmen Lorentz at (603) 524-0747 ext 110 or CLorentz@LRCommunityDevelopers.org Thank you!

We were pleased to complete our landscaping plans at Compass House in Laconia this spring. The pandemic delayed this final finishing touch last year. Volunteers from the Belknap County Recovery Court, overseen by LRCD staff, planted trees, bushes, and flower beds, and build raised beds for vegetables. The women in recovery who live at Compass House can now enjoy their beautiful front yard!

It may seem like it is always raining lately but the Lakes Region is still in a moderate drought. You can find the NH Drought Map at droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?NH=. While in a moderate drought wildfires can increase, wildlife is impacted, and lake levels can be below normal capacity.

Visit www.ready.gov/drought for some great tips on what you can do to conserve water.

The New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) announced that it has awarded $750,000 in tax credits to our Gale School Redevelopment Project, which will transform the historic property into a vibrant community facility housing a childcare center operated by the Boys & Girls Club of Central NH and a program center operated by Lakes Region Community Services.

This award is in the form of tax equity. New Hampshire businesses can support our project by purchasing the tax credits - we receive a donation for the Gale School projects and the company receives a state tax credit worth 75 percent of their contribution. The credit can be applied against the Business Profits Tax, Business Enterprise Tax, or Insurance Premium. Please contact Carmen Lorentz at clorentz@lrcommunitydevelopers.org or at 603.524.0747 ext. 110 for more information.

The Gale School Redevelopment Project will require multiple funding sources. We are grateful to CDFA for this Tax Credit award and their support of this project.

Vegetable gardens have "sprouted up" at LRCD's Batchelder Apartments and River's Edge Apartments, thanks to a partnership with the Belknap County Conservation District and a generous grant from the Bank of New Hampshire. New raised bed gardens were created and planted over the last few weeks with the help of residents, staff and volunteers. Residents added soil to the raised beds and planted their choice of vegetables. Raised bed planters offer easy access for older residents and those using wheelchairs. "Everyone had a great time getting the planters ready and deciding what they wanted to grow. Giving communities access to grow their own food is important", said Lisa Morin, Program Coordinator for the Belknap County Conservation District (BCCD).

LRCD is grateful to BCCD for providing the garden beds and funds to give our residents access to healthy foods and the healthy activity of gardening.

The new garden at Harriman Hill in Wolfeboro was a big hit last summer, so residents there asked for supplies to build two more raised beds this year. They constructed those in May. LRCD provided funds for residents to buy vegetable plants. Their four raised garden beds are growing lots of healthy vegetables. The garden crew decided that produce from the garden in available to any resident at Harriman Hill.

The final piece of the renovation at Ames Brook Apartments in Ashland was installed. We completed the $5 million renovation project in September 2020. In past years and especially this year, via the Community Survey, residents have expressed a great desire for more community events and spaces to hold them. The new gazebo at Ames Brook will become a central gathering space for the 40-unit community.

Lakes Region Community Developers brought two Little Free Libraries to Harriman Hill Apartments in Wolfeboro. Little Free Library's vision is that there is a Little Free Library in every community and a book for every reader. They believe all people are empowered when the opportunity to discover a personally relevant book to read is not limited by time, space, or privilege. LRCD agrees! We want all our residents young and old to have access to great books.

We have stocked the libraries with books from the Little Free Library Read in Color list. Read in Color books provide perspectives on racism and social justice; celebrate BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized voices; and incorporate experiences from all identities for all readers.

There will be more Little Free Libraries popping up at LRCD properties soon.