Valley Quest

In these contentious times, when civility, useful information, and real communication seems to be frequently missing from the big social media platfor [...]

Upper Valley Housing, 2010-2019: The Numbers Are In

How many and what kind of homes are we creating in our region? Vital Communities and Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Commission partnered with 29 t [...]

Hartford Dollars Sell Out!

Buyers gobbled up $18,000 worth of Hartford Dollars within just days of the new "currency" going on sale! And organizers hope it's only the start [...]

Community Conversations: Resilience Through Local Food Security

A community conversation about increasing resilience through local food production and working lands Join Vital Communities, Land for Good, and other [...]

Growth: Downtown vs. Out-of-Town

Which uses of our land provide the best economic returns to our towns? The answers might surprise you. Developing big parcels of land on the fr [...]

Shop Hartford, Save 50%!

Support the Hartford businesses you love and boost our local economy with “Hartford Dollars”—a special “currency” that gives you a 50 pe [...]

Meet Our New Executive Director!

An experienced international development professional who more recently has immersed herself in the Upper Valley will be the new Executive Directo [...]

The Broad Benefits of Buying Local

A study commissioned by Vital Communities finds that, for every dollar they earn, local retailers (like CourierWar of Randolph, above) and restaur [...]

Upper Valley Everyone Eats

We are launching Upper Valley Everyone Eats! Between September 8 and December 18, approximately 2,500 meals from local restaurants will be available w [...]

2CLA Graduate Spotlight: Climate Change Hike at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP

The Climate Change Leadership Academy Class (2CLA) of 2020 graduated in May amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. We would like to highlight the [...]

Upcoming Events

	October 2020
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
				1 Lebanon Farmer Market Lebanon Farmer Market October 1, 2020 @ 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm See more details •	2	3 Norwich Farmers Market Norwich Farmers Market October 3, 2020 @ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm See more details •
4	5	6	7	8 Lebanon Farmer Market Lebanon Farmer Market October 8, 2020 @ 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm See more details •	9	10 Norwich Farmers Market Norwich Farmers Market October 10, 2020 @ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm See more details •
11	12	13	14 Leadership Upper Valley Session Leadership Upper Valley Session Starts: 12:00 am Ends: October 14, 2020 - 11:59 pm More details... LUV Transportation & Livable Communities Day - VINS and Zoom LUV Transportation & Livable Communities Day - VINS and Zoom Starts: 8:00 am Ends: October 14, 2020 - 4:00 pm Location: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85144193896?pwd=cHVVUkpXcmcvcVNpZUw1eXdyYk9iQT09 Description: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85144193896?pwd=cHVVUkpXcmcvcVNpZUw1eXdyYk9iQT09 More details... • •	15 From the Outskirts to Downtown: Taxes, Land Use & Land Value Analysis of 15 New Hampshire Communities From the Outskirts to Downtown: Taxes, Land Use & Land Value Analysis of 15 New Hampshire Communities Starts: 10:00 am Ends: October 15, 2020 - 11:00 am Location: Register at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5170431849006990096 Description: Which uses of our land provide the best economic returns to our towns? The answers might surprise you. Developing big parcels of land on the fringes of town as malls, big-box stores, or suburban tracts? No. Building up existing downtowns with mixed uses – residential, commercial, social services, and more? Yes. Acre for acre, this type of development raises more property tax revenue and requires less new infrastructure for taxpayers to pay for. In addition, mixed-use downtown development can have positive implications for climate change, public health, historic preservation and community architectural “character,” and social equity. This broad issue is explored in a series of engaging, accessible, virtual presentations featuring renowned planner Joe Minicozzi of the North Carolina-based firm Urban3, which kicks off with the session From the Outskirts to Downtown: Taxes, Land Use & Land Value Analysis of 15 New Hampshire Communities, on Thursday, October 15, 10 am. Register now for this free event. Minicozzi will follow up with presentations focused on the communities that were studied, including a session focusing on Lebanon, Claremont (shown above), and Hanover, on Thursday, October 29, 11 am. Urban3’s research was contracted by the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority. Vital Communities is the Upper Valley event co-sponsor. Register for this free LOCAL event. Urban3 derived its findings by analyzing the property tax revenues of Berlin, Claremont, Concord, Dover, Exeter, Hanover, Hudson, Keene, Laconia, Lebanon, Nashua, Pelham, Peterborough, Portsmouth, and Rochester. Minicozzi, the principal of Urban3, is an urban planner who utilizes new ways to think about and visualize land use, urban design, and economics. By using these data to create 3D visualizations, Urban3’s analysis reveals the potential for improving the fiscal health of each of these 15 communities. The visuals show what types of development create the greatest tax return for communities, and create a clear and data-driven understanding of the economics of place. Communities can use these findings as a tool to make public policy adjustments, with the goal of creating long-term financial resiliency. The Lebanon-Claremont-Hanover conversation will drill down from the statewide picture presented on October 15. Analysis, charts, and observations of data for each of the three towns will be presented. A panel with planning officials from each of the towns and the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission will provide local context and answer questions in a facilitated discussion. The series aims to give participants another way to look at how we use our land, and the implications for local health, prosperity, climate, and social equity. They should be able to use the information to make choices that enable and protect what they value in their local communities. Although the data was derived from studying particular New Hampshire communities, residents and officials of towns of all sizes can gain valuable insight from this discussion. Questions to be explored include: What are the financial implications of different land uses, and how can this knowledge help us make and implement good decisions for our homes, businesses, schools, and other needs? Who really pays for infrastructure and its continued maintenance? How can we preserve and replicate the homes and buildings we appreciate most, that give our communities character, and offer the greatest benefits to the public as a whole? More details... Community Economist Michael Shuman: Rebooting Your Economy After COVID Community Economist Michael Shuman: Rebooting Your Economy After COVID Starts: 6:30 pm Ends: October 15, 2020 - 7:30 pm Description: Introductory Webinar: Rebooting Your Community After COVID - How to Invest Locally Using Self-Directed IRAs and Solo 401ks The Local Crowd (TLC) Upper Valley & Monadnock will host an online introductory webinar with community economist and author Michael H. Shuman called "Rebooting Your Community After COVID - How to Invest Locally Using Self-Directed IRAs and Solo 401ks" on Thursday, October 15, 2020, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. This event is free, but registration is required. Register Today! "When the pandemic recedes, we all will be called upon to take extraordinary steps to revive the local businesses that serve as the foundation of our communities," shared Shuman. "One critically important step will be for you and other members of your community to move your investment capital from Wall Street to Main Street." The event's target audience includes community members with tax-deferred retirement accounts, whether a 401k or IRA, interested in moving a portion of their money to local businesses, projects, or people. Others who might benefit from this event are local business people looking for new sources of capital, community economic developers and those looking for new ways to solve local economic problems and strengthen local resiliency. Shuman, a leading visionary on community economics, serves as Director of Local Economy Programs for Neighborhood Associates Corporation and Adjunct Professor at Bard Business School in New York City. He is also a Senior Researcher for Council Fire and Local Analytics, where he performs economic-development analyses for states, local governments, and businesses around North America. His three most recent books are Put Your Money Where Your Life Is: How to Invest Locally Using Solo 401ks and Self-Directed IRAs; The Local Economy Solution: How Innovative, Self-Financing Pollinator Enterprises Can Grow Jobs and Prosperity; and Local Dollars, Local Sense: How to Shift Your Money from Wall Street to Main Street. More details... • •	16	17 Norwich Farmers Market Norwich Farmers Market October 17, 2020 @ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm See more details •
18	19	20 Community Resilience Through Local Food Security: Lebanon/Mascoma Valley Community Resilience Through Local Food Security: Lebanon/Mascoma Valley Starts: 6:30 pm Ends: October 20, 2020 - 8:00 pm More details... •	21	22 UVTMA Monthly Meeting - REMOTE UVTMA Monthly Meeting - REMOTE Starts: 4:00 pm Ends: October 22, 2020 - 5:30 pm Location: By video conference Description: This is the meeting of the Upper Valley Transportation Management Association. For spring 2020 and until further notice, meetings will be held remotely. More details... •	23	24 Norwich Farmers Market Norwich Farmers Market October 24, 2020 @ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm See more details •
25	26	27 Community Resilience Through Local Food Security: Kearsarge Region Community Resilience Through Local Food Security: Kearsarge Region Starts: 6:30 pm Ends: October 27, 2020 - 8:00 pm Location: (Zoom Line)-Zoom Line 1 More details... •	28	29 Taxes, Land Use & Land Value Analysis in Lebanon, Claremont, Hanover Taxes, Land Use & Land Value Analysis in Lebanon, Claremont, Hanover Starts: 11:00 am Ends: October 29, 2020 - 12:00 pm Location: Register for this free LOCAL event at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4748637198917028623 Description: Which uses of our land provide the best economic returns to our towns? The answers might surprise you. Developing big parcels of land on the fringes of town as malls, big-box stores, or suburban tracts? No. Building up existing downtowns with mixed uses – residential, commercial, social services, and more? Yes. Acre for acre, this type of development raises more property tax revenue and requires less new infrastructure for taxpayers to pay for. In addition, mixed-use downtown development can have positive implications for climate change, public health, historic preservation and community architectural “character,” and social equity. This broad issue is explored in a series of engaging, accessible, virtual presentations featuring renowned planner Joe Minicozzi of the North Carolina-based firm Urban3, which kicks off with the session From the Outskirts to Downtown: Taxes, Land Use & Land Value Analysis of 15 New Hampshire Communities, on Thursday, October 15, 10 am. Register now for this free event. Minicozzi will follow up with presentations focused on the communities that were studied, including a session focusing on Lebanon, Claremont (shown above), and Hanover, on Thursday, October 29, 11 am. Urban3’s research was contracted by the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority. Vital Communities is the Upper Valley event co-sponsor. Register for this free LOCAL event. Urban3 derived its findings by analyzing the property tax revenues of Berlin, Claremont, Concord, Dover, Exeter, Hanover, Hudson, Keene, Laconia, Lebanon, Nashua, Pelham, Peterborough, Portsmouth, and Rochester. Minicozzi, the principal of Urban3, is an urban planner who utilizes new ways to think about and visualize land use, urban design, and economics. By using these data to create 3D visualizations, Urban3’s analysis reveals the potential for improving the fiscal health of each of these 15 communities. The visuals show what types of development create the greatest tax return for communities, and create a clear and data-driven understanding of the economics of place. Communities can use these findings as a tool to make public policy adjustments, with the goal of creating long-term financial resiliency. The Lebanon-Claremont-Hanover conversation will drill down from the statewide picture presented on October 15. Analysis, charts, and observations of data for each of the three towns will be presented. A panel with planning officials from each of the towns and the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission will provide local context and answer questions in a facilitated discussion. The series aims to give participants another way to look at how we use our land, and the implications for local health, prosperity, climate, and social equity. They should be able to use the information to make choices that enable and protect what they value in their local communities. Although the data was derived from studying particular New Hampshire communities, residents and officials of towns of all sizes can gain valuable insight from this discussion. Questions to be explored include: What are the financial implications of different land uses, and how can this knowledge help us make and implement good decisions for our homes, businesses, schools, and other needs? Who really pays for infrastructure and its continued maintenance? How can we preserve and replicate the homes and buildings we appreciate most, that give our communities character, and offer the greatest benefits to the public as a whole? More details... •	30	31 Norwich Farmers Market Norwich Farmers Market October 31, 2020 @ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm See more details •

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