North Country Council Awarded $3 Million Grant to Advance Transportation Resilience Across Northern New Hampshire

The North Country Council in partnership with The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire (TNC) has been awarded a $3,072,346 U.S. Department of Transportation Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Planning Grant to advance transportation resilience and storm readiness across Northern New Hampshire.

Northern New Hampshire experiences some of the state's most significant transportation challenges due to flooding and aging infrastructure. The region is home to nearly 4,900 road-stream crossings. As storms become larger and more frequent, many crossings can no longer safely pass floodwater, increasing the risk of flooding and washouts. Flooding in Madison this June is another reminder of the impact storms can have on local roads and the people who rely on them.

The BUILD award provides funding to identify the crossings where investments can have the greatest impact and complete the planning and engineering needed to prepare those projects for future construction.

“This federal investment will help support important transportation projects in our North Country while protecting the roads, bridges and stream crossings that residents, businesses and visitors rely on every day,” said Governor Kelly Ayotte. “By advancing high-priority projects, this grant will improve safety, strengthen storm preparedness and maximize taxpayer resources where they will make the biggest difference. Congratulations to the North Country Council, The Nature Conservancy and their partners on securing this important funding for New Hampshire.”

During the three-year project, the North Country Council and its partners will work with communities across New Hampshire’s Coos County and northern Carroll and Grafton Counties to identify, prioritize and advance high-risk road-stream crossings using data-driven planning, field verification, engineering design, environmental review and coordination with state and regional transportation programs. Selected projects will move into preliminary engineering and design. The methods and tools developed through this effort will create a planning approach that can be used by others throughout New Hampshire.

“Over the years, we have heard a consistent need from communities across Northern New Hampshire. They want to invest in more resilient transportation infrastructure but often need additional resources to move projects forward,” said Michelle Moren-Grey, executive director of the North Country Council. “Now, local communities will have the opportunity to use their knowledge of flooding and local transportation needs to help guide which projects are advanced and where these resources can have the greatest impact.”

The BUILD award will support jobs and economic activity throughout the region. By advancing priority projects to construction readiness, the initiative will position communities to be competitive for future state and federal infrastructure funding, helping unlock additional investment that supports local businesses, protects critical transportation corridors and strengthens the region's tourism, forest products and outdoor recreation economies.

The Nature Conservancy will serve as a technical partner, supporting project prioritization, risk-based screening and resilience implementation strategy development. TNC committed matching support and brought together a national team of technical experts to advise as part of the successful application.

“Healthy rivers, resilient infrastructure and thriving communities go hand in hand,” said Alaina Chormann, climate adaptation program manager for The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire. “This investment will help northern New Hampshire communities prepare for future storms while improving public safety and restoring wildlife connectivity in the region for years to come.”

About North Country Council

North Country Council is the Regional Planning Commission and federally designated Economic Development District serving northern New Hampshire. Providing planning, technical assistance and coordination to support communities throughout the region.

About The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change; conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale; providing food and water sustainably; and helping make cities more resilient. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 83 countries and territories (39 by direct conservation impact and 44 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector and other partners. In New Hampshire, TNC works with communities, businesses and government partners to advance community resiliency, healthy waters, thriving forests and sustainable infrastructure solutions. For more news, visit our newsroom or follow The Nature Conservancy on LinkedIn.