As promised...

By Terri O'Rorke, 21 November 2023
Joe Biden - I may be old but I get shit done

About a week ago, I wrote an article highlighting what the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act meant for New Hampshire. As promised at the end of the article, here is more information about the “RAISE Grant Program.”

As of Oct. 31, the Dept. of Transportation (DOT) has awarded the NHDOT roughly $20 million to replace the Gen. Sullivan Bridge, re-opening a multi-use path between Newington and Dover. This new stronger two-girder bridge will be across Little Bay linking the two towns. Until an improved bridge is replaced, bicyclists and pedestrians have had to avail themselves of a 25-mile detour. With this re-opening, more community transportation choices become available which in turn adds to economic activity.

The Federal Transit Administration (through the DOT) has awarded more than $7.7 million to the Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation (COAST). This funding will go towards building a new facility which will feature energy-efficient solar panels, while allowing staff to work in one facility thereby reducing operational expenses. Click here for more information on the FTA Bus and Low- and No-Emission Grant Program. 

The City of Franklin Environmental Protection Agency was awarded about $1.9 million to clean up the Ferrari Mill Site. Two separate buildings are slated for cleanup, one which had been abandoned in 1986. Before that, the building was used for manufacturing hacksaw blades and produce tool components. It is now contaminated with chlorinated volatile organic compounds, hazardous substances, heavy metals and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. This funding from the Brownfields Cleanup Grant will hasten the cleanup efforts, encourage economic redevelopment, while building resilient and safer communities for generations to come. Click here for a list of Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant projects.

The Dept. of Commerce, through the Middle Mile Grant Program, has awarded to Grafton County nearly $12 million to connect local networks to high-capacity regional and national networks. This will lower the cost of connecting under and unserved communities. This project will bring new fiber optic cable while closing gaps and maximizing existing infrastructure in order to lower the cost of buildout. Municipalities will then be able to better serve the “last mile” of residences and small businesses.

Manchester-Boston Regional Airport was recently awarded $4.1 million from the Federal Aviation Administration. This funding will go towards a project to replace the current Lincoln terminal cooling  towers, control equipment, fans, internal exhaust decks and any associated plumbing. This will also go towards correcting constraints in the baggage and passenger screening area and rebuilding airline areas allowing for a more competitive and flexible commercial air service. Click here for a map and list of the Airport Terminal awards.

“Infrastructure Week,” no longer a bad joke during the previous administration but now a reality in the form of jobs and improving the lives of Americans!