Treating substance use disorders
The Executive Council has approved an additional $9.8 million for The Doorways program, elevating the state’s total investment to $57.8 million. According to a press release, this initiative, launched in 2019, aims to transform New Hampshire’s approach to treating opioid and other substance use disorders. The program is set to serve around 24,000 individuals in the coming year, focusing on increasing access to support services, reducing overdose fatalities and improving substance use-related health care. Gov. Chris Sununu said in a statement, “The Doorways initiative has played a vital role in providing individuals across New Hampshire with critical treatment and recovery services — regardless of whether they live in rural New Hampshire or a more urban area. Today’s renewed investment in the program will ensure New Hampshire continues the important work being done to curb the harm caused by the nationwide drug epidemic.”
Transportation plan
The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) has initiated the biennial process to reassess the state’s transportation infrastructure needs and has formulated a Ten-Year Plan for 2025-2034, proposing an investment of nearly $5 billion across all transportation modes, according to a press release. In the process of developing this plan, the NHDOT sought insights from Regional Planning Commissions and engaged with the public through 24 hearings conducted by the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Intermodal Transportation (GACIT). The feedback from these hearings led to adjustments in the plan. After GACIT concluded its deliberations, the plan was forwarded to the governor for review. The next phase will see the governor presenting the plan to the New Hampshire Legislature in January for extensive review and debate, starting with the House’s Public Works & Highways Committee, proceeding to the Senate, and aiming for final adoption by June 2024.
School funds
The Manchester School District has been awarded a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to enhance its community schools initiative. According to a press release, this initiative integrates additional services such as health and nutrition into the school system. Manchester, being the only recipient in New Hampshire, is part of a nationwide program that allocates $74 million across 30 districts. This funding will be utilized to expand the impact on students, families and the community, with a focus on meeting basic needs to improve learning outcomes. The district worked in collaboration with Manchester Proud and other partners in developing the grant application.
More nurses
Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, a member of Dartmouth Health, has launched a collaborative program with New England College (NEC) in Henniker to address the nursing shortage by providing nursing students with practical experience and college credits. According to a press release, this innovative model, starting in 2024, allows up to 12 students annually to work as licensed nursing assistants (LNAs) at Cheshire Medical Center while completing their three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. The program is designed to integrate hands-on clinical training with academic study, offering students salary and credits during their 14-week cooperative clinical experience each year. This partnership is part of Dartmouth Health’s wider strategy to foster a skilled health care workforce, aligning with its commitment to nursing education and addressing the nationwide challenge of nursing staff shortages.
Zoom talks
The United Way of Greater Nashua, in collaboration with volunteers from the Emmaus Institute and Main Street Methodist Church, is coordinating “Let’s Talk,” a series of bi-weekly Zoom conversations aimed at reducing social isolation among older adults. According to a press release, these online talks, supported by Greater Nashua Mental Health, Gateways Community Services, Nashua Senior Activity Center and Meals on Wheels of Hillsborough County, offer a platform for homebound older adults and others to connect without a specific theme or agenda. The sessions are scheduled for the first and third Thursdays from noon to 1 p.m., and the second and fourth Thursdays from 9 to 10 a.m.. This initiative invites all interested individuals to participate via the link tinyurl.com/LetsTalkNH. For more information or to engage as a donor or volunteer, contact them at [email protected] or visit unitedwaynashua.org.
Prinoth, an Italian manufacturer of snow-grooming machines, recently relocated to Concord, moving into a 23,000-square-foot facility previously occupied by Concord Sports Center, the Concord Monitor reported. After 18 years in Gilmanton, the company will now have doubled space and a rail system for a 5-ton overhead crane. Prinoth, which serves ski areas across the East, from Ohio to Maine to Tennessee, will host the New Hampshire ski season’s annual industry kickoff. Their high-end groomers, vital for ski resorts and snowmobile clubs, can cost up to a half-million dollars, while smaller models are priced in the low six figures. The Concord site is shared with sister company DemaLenko, a snow-making machinery manufacturer.
Amoskeag Health is set to establish the Mark Stebbins Community Center in Manchester’s West Side to improve access to health care and community services. According to a press release, the center will serve as a hub for Amoskeag Health and the Boys & Girls Club, among others. The location in Kelley Falls is part of a privately funded initiative that will not use taxpayer dollars. The project, still in its early stages, anticipates a 20,000-square-foot facility.
Rivier University in Nashua is launching a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree and a 4+1 program, set to begin in Fall 2024. According to an announcement from the school, this program offers concentrations in Data Science, Cybersecurity, Software Development or Game Programming, and the 4+1 option allows students to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees in just five years.
