Five N.H. communities awarded CDFA planning grants

The New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority has approved awards to fund five planning grants for community development projects around the state.

The feasibility studies, funded by the federal Community Development Block Grant program, will allow local officials to assess the likelihood of success for these job creation and public facilities efforts.

“Planning grants are intended to offset any cost to local taxpayers for conducting feasibility studies for potential Community Development Block Grant projects,” said Kevin Flynn, CDFA communications director. “These include activities from market or income surveys to engineering evaluations of failing infrastructure.”

The planning grants approved were:

 • $12,000 to the city of Berlin for a market study on whether the area can support a nonprofit food cooperative.

 • $12,000 to the town of Northumberland to assess current conditions and potential solutions to the infrastructure needs of Groveton Village.

 • $12,000 to the town of Jaffrey to conduct an engineering study of sewer and water infrastructure serving the Forest Park Tenants Association Cooperative.

 • $12,000 to the town of Troy to conduct a feasibility study of bringing its historic town hall into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

 • $12,000 to the town of Tilton to explore the feasibility of adding 10 new manufactured homes at the Gaslight Village Cooperative.

“All of these planning studies will help the projects determine whether they’d qualify for a future CDBG grant. Municipalities could receive up to $500,000 in federal funds from HUD to implement the work,” said Flynn.