Concord, Portsmouth, Other Communities Receive Housing Champion Awards

CONCORD, NH — The Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA) has designated 18 communities as Housing Champions, recognizing their efforts to address the state’s housing challenges by supporting affordable, accessible, and sustainable housing development.

The 2024 Housing Champion Awardees are:

• Boscawen
• Concord
• Derry
• Dover
• Enfield
• Farmington
• Hinsdale
• Hooksett
• Jaffrey
• Keene
• Lebanon
• Manchester
• Nashua
• Newport
• Portsmouth
• Rochester
• Salem
• Somersworth

“Housing is one of the biggest challenges to the New Hampshire economy and these communities have demonstrated leadership in fostering solutions supporting affordable, accessible, and sustainable housing development,” BEA Commissioner Taylor Caswell said. “These communities set an example by creating opportunities for housing solutions that benefit residents and drive economic growth. Their innovative approaches and collaborative efforts are instrumental in addressing our state’s housing challenges.

In earning the Housing Champion designation, the municipalities were scored based on their commitment to advancing housing initiatives.

With a Housing Champion designation, communities are eligible to apply for the Housing Infrastructure Municipal Grant, with $3.5 million available, and the Housing Production Municipal Grant, with $1.5 million available.

These grants are designed to further support municipalities in developing housing solutions and advancing infrastructure critical to their communities.

Applications will be available April 1 for the second round of the Housing Champion program. For more information, visit nheconomy.com/investnh-housing/programs/housing-champion-program.

Submitted by BEA.