Hanover, NH – The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation's Upper Valley Region announced grants of $111,522 to local nonprofit organizations through its most recent competitive application grant program.  The grants were awarded to 18 nonprofit programs serving all or a portion of the Region's 61-town, bi-state service area.

A $15,000 grant to Twin Pines Housing Trust (TPHT) of White River Junction will increase their ability to develop and manage new affordable and workforce housing projects in the Upper Valley.  The grant will enable TPHT to expand its staff capacity so it can increase stewardship of existing properties, develop additional projects, explore strategic alliances and increase fundraising activity as THPT doubles its portfolio of rental/ownership properties.  "There is a huge, unmet need for homes that working people in our region can afford to buy or rent" according to Executive Director Bruce Pacht.  "Twin Pines is actively seeking projects and partnerships in a number of Upper Valley communities to help meet this need.  This grant will help us ramp up our capacity."  The grant complements the Foundation's statewide Workforce Housing Initiative, which supports regional efforts to promote the development of homes for working families such as firefighters, nurses, and municipal employees, many of whom can't afford to live in the towns where they work.  A $10,000 grant to the Upper Valley Housing Coalition will support outreach and education efforts about workforce housing in this region.  A 2001 report for the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Housing Coalition identified a shortage of 5,000 housing units in the Upper Valley.

Grant awards were made to the following organizations and programs:

Center for School Success (Region-wide) received $5,000 to develop a marketing and business plan to enable better utilization of their education services across the region.

Community Alliance of Human Services (Sullivan County) received $15,000 in operating support for its regional transportation services.

Community Based Services of Claremont (Claremont, NH) received a $4,000challenge grant to help it secure additional funds to complete a marketing and feasibility study for a new assisted-living facility for low-income seniors.

Early Childhood Mental Health Network (Grafton & Sullivan Counties) received $2,486to improve several collaborating agencies' ability to serve families with children needing mental-health services through planning for a Family Resource Center.

Flock Dance Troupe (Region-wide) received $781 to market and promote its summer production of "Liberty" at Saint-Gaudens National Historical Site and help expand audience and financial support.

Little Rivers Health Care (Bradford, VT) received $4,888 to support a strategic planning process.

Newport Middle High School (Newport, NH) was awarded $3,500 to support an educational project converting a gasoline-powered car to an electric vehicle.

Newport School District (Newport, NH) received $5,000 for professional development for staff of the district's after-school programs.

Richards Free Library (Newport, NH) received $4,697 to increase computer and Internet access in the Newport community through purchase of new computers and up-to-date software

SafeArt (Chelsea, VT) received a $7,500 grant for a strategic planning process to help expand their board, identify new revenue, and deliver programs to more schools and communities.

Special Needs Support Center (formerly Upper Valley Support Group) (Region-wide) received $4,970 to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of programs through a survey of its constituents.

Stern Center for Language and Learning (White River Junction, VT) received $5,000 for marketing, outreach and expansion of its research-based teacher professional development and student support services in the Upper Valley.

The Family Place (Norwich, VT) received $4,000 for management restructuring that will result in improved outcomes for its family clients.

The Summer Camp received $5,000 to enable underprivileged girls from Sullivan County to go to attend summer camp.

Twin Pines Housing Trust (Region-wide) received $15,000 to support expanded staffing for new project development and management. New projects will help ease the shortage of affordable and workforce housing in the region and enable TPHT to earn important new operating revenue.

Upper Valley At Work (Region-wide) received $2,200 to underwrite two profiles of Upper Valley residents that highlight various types of career opportunities for area students.

Upper Valley Housing Coalition (Region-wide) was awarded $10,000 for education and outreach efforts on the importance of creating more affordable and workforce housing in region.

Vital Communities (Region-wide) received a $12,500 grant to pilot a new program that will connect employees at three local businesses with fresh produce from local farms, with the goal of reducing cancer risk, improving health outcomes and providing regular income to local farmers. 

The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation has been working to improve the quality of life in our communities since 1962.  It builds and manages a collection of funds, totaling nearly than $490 million, created by individuals, families and corporations for charitable purposes. In 2007, the Foundation awarded more than $33 million in grants to nonprofits and scholarship funds to students. In the past five years alone, the Foundation has granted a total of more than $125 million. Based in Concord, the Foundation roots itself in communities across the state through seven regions including Lakes, Manchester, Monadnock, Nashua, North Country, Piscataqua and Upper Valley.  For more information about the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, visit www.nhcf.org or call (603) 225-6641.