USDA announces $10.6 million in funding for rural NH communities, businesses
U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced approximately $10.6 million in funding for rural communities, farmers and small businesses in New Hampshire this week.
The awards were made through the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant program, Rural Business Development Grant program, Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant program and Rural Energy for America Program. The funding is expected to create more than 130 new jobs, produce enough energy to power roughly 70 homes and provide more than 25,000 people with new and safer public facilities, officials said in a news release.
“President Biden is committed to lowering on-farm energy costs for American producers and improving economic prosperity in rural America. The awards announced today will expand clean energy access, strengthen rural infrastructure, and create vital new jobs,” Torres Small said in a statement. “USDA is proud to partner with Senators (Jeanne) Shaheen and (Maggie) Hassan, and Representatives (Chris) Pappas and (Annie) Kuster in ensuring rural New Hampshire thrives.”
With two requests for help heard and secured through Congressionally Directed Spending by Sen. Shaheen, Newport will receive $7,29 million to upgrade a wastewater treatment facility ($2.5 million and create a new 19,000-plus-square-foot. community center ($4,79 million) that will serve as a meeting place, sports and recreation venue, performance space, program and learning area, among other uses.
Claremont is in line to receive $50,000 to provide support and technical assistance to local entrepreneurs, creating an estimated 15 new jobs. Shaheen also helped secure a $100,000 grant to install a fire safety sprinkler system in the historic Claremont Opera House, built in 1897.
Canaan Hardware and Supply will benefit from a 33.6 kilowatt roof-mounted solar array that will generate an estimated 38,000 kilowatt hours, resulting in roughly $9,800 in savings each year for the company.
The Amazing Flower Farm in New Ipswich expects to save over $2,400 by installing a small solar array, and in Lee the Flag Hill Distillery is using its award to install 110 panels and produce more than 50,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, offsetting roughly 60% of its annual usage.
“It is our job to invest in rural communities, and that means a broad and diverse set of projects,” said Sara Waring, rural development director for New Hampshire, in a statement. “We are intent on helping as many people as we can with the programs we have.”