The information contained in this article is not intended as legal advice and may no longer be accurate due to changes in the law. Consult NHMA's legal services or your municipal attorney.
From Vision to Funding
Throughout New Hampshire, municipalities and their nonprofit partners are working to meet growing community needs with limited local, state, and federal resources. Grants can be powerful tools to advance local priorities—but they are most effective when they are used strategically, grounded in community planning, and supported by the capacity to successfully manage them.
Successful grant outcomes begin long before an application is submitted. Competitive projects are rooted in local plans, informed by data and public input, and aligned with clearly identified community needs such as housing, infrastructure, economic development, transportation, and resiliency. Understanding the broader grant landscape, preparing projects through early planning and design, and realistically assessing local capacity are all critical steps in moving from a community vision to a grant-ready project.
Just as important, being awarded a grant is only the beginning. Compliance requirements, procurement rules, financial tracking, and reporting can all influence whether a project succeeds once funding is secured. For many communities, navigating these responsibilities—and avoiding common pitfalls—can be challenging without additional support.
Municipalities do not have to approach this work alone. Regional Planning Commissions (RPCs) play a key role in helping communities plan, identify funding opportunities, prepare competitive applications, and manage grants effectively. By treating grant readiness as an ongoing practice rather than a one-time task, communities can position themselves to pursue funding opportunities that truly advance local goals and deliver lasting public benefits.
Laying the Groundwork for Success
Grants are most effective when they are used as leverage to advance community-identified priorities, rather than when projects are created simply to pursue available funding. Competitive grant applications must demonstrate a clear connection to local plans, such as projects identified in Master Plans, Capital Improvement Programs, Watershed Management Plans, and Hazard Mitigation Plans. Additionally, documented public input signals to funders that a project is intentional, strategic, and locally supported. When used in this way, grant funding can help move priority projects toward implementation.
Competitive grant applications are built through early planning and preparation, clearly defining a data-supported need, aligning with community and program goals, presenting a realistic scope, budget, and timeline, and demonstrating both project readiness and the capacity to follow through. They should be informed by prior work such as engineering studies, designs, vulnerability assessments, or long-range planning documents. Communities that invest time upfront to define problems, evaluate options, and align solutions with local priorities are better positioned to respond quickly and competitively when funding opportunities arise.
Understanding the grant landscape is essential to moving projects from vision to implementation. Municipal grants span areas such as planning, infrastructure, housing, economic development, transportation, and resiliency, with funding available from state, federal, regional, and foundation sources—often requiring a local match in cash, staff time, or volunteer hours.
Equally important, being awarded a grant is only the beginning. Municipalities and organizations must be prepared to manage ongoing responsibilities related to compliance, procurement, financial tracking, and reporting. Asking whether an organization can manage a grant is just as important as determining whether it can be awarded. Limited capacity does not necessarily mean a community should not apply, but it may indicate a need to budget for grant administration or management support.
Utilizing the Regional Planning Commissions
Municipalities do not need to navigate, apply for, and manage grants on their own. Regional Planning Commissions can assist at every stage, including project development and scoping, data and mapping analysis, identifying aligned funding opportunities, and providing letters of support or regional context. They can also help connect communities with additional resources and partners to strengthen both applications and implementation. Engaging the RPCs early and often leads to stronger, more competitive proposals and smoother project execution. The following case studies illustrate how these services have helped communities successfully move projects from concept to completion.
Sunrise Lake Watershed Management Plan Implementation Phase I – SRPC Region
The Strafford Regional Planning Commission (SRPC) is currently providing grant administration and project coordination services to the Town of Middleton to advance priority actions from the 2021 Sunrise Lake Watershed Management Plan. In 2024, SRPC prepared and submitted a successful NHDES Watershed Assistance Grant proposal on the Town’s behalf, securing $62,885 to address declining water quality and the increasing frequency of cyanobacteria blooms.
The project includes several stormwater control measures, including the installation of rain gardens at Hampshire Shores Beach and the Sunrise Lake Lands Association Beach; replacement of a culvert under Lake Shore Road and related drainage improvements; and a demonstration shoreline buffer project in partnership with the NHDES SOAK Team. It also supports development of a septic system regulation and additional bacteria sampling at the Lake Lands beach.
SRPC’s role extends well beyond grant writing. The Commission is serving as the Town’s project manager, procurement agent, land use and regulatory coordinator, and community engagement lead. SRPC is responsible for coordinating with NHDES, managing reporting and reimbursement requests, documenting in-kind match, and ensuring compliance with all other state grant requirements. SRPC is also leading the selection and oversight of an engineering consultant to develop project designs, while taking on additional responsibilities, such as assisting with Shoreland permitting, to minimize consultant costs and maximize the value of grant funds.
Through ongoing coordination with lake associations, the Sunrise Lake Watershed Advisory Committee, and other stakeholders, SRPC is helping the Town translate growing community momentum into measurable, cost-effective watershed improvements.
Drinking Water Improvements at Base Hill Cooperative – SWRPC Region
Southwest Region Planning Commission recently served as grant writer and administrator for a drinking water improvement project at the Base Hill Cooperative, a resident-owned manufactured housing community with roughly 150 residents in Keene, NH. The existing water system was experiencing regular leaks and failures due to its age, leading to grossly inflated water bills for homeowners. SWRPC assisted the City of Keene and the Cooperative in assembling an application to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, which focuses on projects that benefit low- and moderate-income households. The $500,000 CDBG award was matched with a grant from the NH Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund and a loan from the NH Community Loan Fund to develop a funding stack that could fully support the project. The new drinking water system has been installed, helping to ensure the preservation of over 50 naturally affordable, owner-occupied housing units.
Outdoor Recreational Trail Hub – NCC Region
The Gorham Trail Hub Project is a community-driven initiative designed to strengthen outdoor recreation infrastructure and support economic vitality in downtown Gorham, NH. The project responds to increased year-round trail use that has outgrown existing facilities, creating challenges related to wayfinding, user safety, parking, and access to local businesses.
In the early stages of project development, NCC worked closely with the Town of Gorham and partners to help identify key components needed for a competitive, fundable project. NCC assisted in confirming alignment with identified funding opportunity priorities, as well as relevant local and state planning and economic development goals. Funding support was leveraged to design and implement a centralized trail hub that improves trail connections, amenities, and visitor information.
NCC’s role extended beyond project development to include ongoing grant administration through project completion. Our familiarity with both the project and its funding sources helps ensure grantees remain on track with grant compliance requirements, access timely guidance, and successfully navigate reporting and implementation milestones. Once completed, the Gorham Trail Hub Project will enhance access to the region’s trail network, support local businesses, and position Gorham as a gateway community for outdoor recreation—delivering lasting economic and quality-of-life benefits for residents and visitors alike.
Achieving Lasting Impact
By approaching grants strategically, grounded in local priorities and thoughtful planning, municipalities and nonprofits can turn community visions into funded, achievable projects. Early preparation, alignment with plans and data, and a realistic understanding of capacity are all critical to success, while ongoing support from Regional Planning Commissions can help navigate the complexities of applications, compliance, and implementation. When communities treat grant readiness as an ongoing practice rather than a one-time effort, they position themselves to not only secure funding but also deliver projects that make a meaningful and lasting impact.