NEWPORT — Newport Sunshine Initiative founder Jay Lucas hosted a meeting on Thursday evening, Oct. 18, at the Library Arts Center to review progress on efforts to revitalize Newport.
Topics discussed included progress on the proposed new Community Center and related funding efforts, a digital training program and work that is being done to boost the economy in coordination with Sullivan County.
Lucas said, ‘We are making great progress on multiple fronts. I am very excited that the energy and enthusiasm is continuing to build as we move forward. Our group started with 12 people and now we number nearly 200.’
Newport Recreation Director, P.J. Lovely, along with Town Manager, Hunter Rieseberg, provided an overview on the work being done to design a new Community Center for Newport that would be located at the site of the current Little League field.
Lovely stressed that the new facility would address a number of the shortcomings of the current building including the ability to hold more than one event at a time. In addition, he said it is being designed in such a way as to allow the current Little League facility to remain on the site while situating the building nearby at the same location.
In addition, Lovely explained how the facility is also designed with the future in mind as it allows for modifications and additions as needs may change or grow in the future.
Reisberg added his comments and emphasized the positive impact that such a center would have on the entire Newport community.
As it turned out, the discussion was timely as Lucas had invited the area’s Executive Councilor Joe Kenney to attend the meeting. Kenney spoke to the group and shared his knowledge of potential sources of funding for the project. He was optimistic that a blend of state, federal and charitable sources would be available to help and offered to provide his assistance in the efforts.
On another initiative, Newport School Family Coordinator Stacey Hammerlind provided an update on the digital training effort being launched to provide web related skills to a number of Newport area residents.
She announced that the 12-week program is fully designed and going live, kicking off on Nov. 8th. Currently, fifteen students have been accepted into the program with ages ranging from teenagers all the way up to others in their mid-sixties. The training is being provided remotely so that students can receive the training while in Newport and once completed, will be qualify for work can that can also be performed while also staying right in the Newport community.
Lucas added that he sees this initiative as a real ‘game changer’ in that it can give a significant boost to the local economy. He also said that the group envisions these 12-week programs to continue into the future with several more being offered in the coming year.
In addition, County Commissioner George Hebert and Penny Whitman of the UNH Cooperative Extension updated the group on efforts on behalf of Sullivan County to create greater awareness of the unique attractions in the county and generate economic activity. In particular, they described a program to gather data from local businesses on their needs and solicited volunteers to help in the effort.
Lucas recognized Ella Casey of the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce to describe an exciting initiative. She invited Newport area residents to attend an event sponsored by the Chamber called The Newport Summit.
Casey, along with Steve Smith have designed an event scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 13th at the Newport Opera House starting at 5 p.m. The event is open to the public and will be attended by numerous local organizations who will have an opportunity to share updates on their progress, create greater awareness and find opportunities to work together on their efforts.
The program ended with an opportunity for volunteers to sign up to participate in subcommittees designed to turn ideas into action. The below list of subcommittees can also be found on the group’s Facebook page at ‘Newport Sunshine Initiative,’ where volunteers can contact the organization to offer their help or get additional information.
List of Initial Newport Sunshine Initiative ‘Action Subcommittees’
– Community Center – Getting the Word out and Building Support
– Education/School to Work – Helping to Achieve Job Readiness
– Opioid Crisis – Prevention, Treatment, Support, Solutions
– Housing – Improving Our Housing Supply
– Town Infrastructure – Water, Sewers, Roads, Energy, Broadband, etc.
– Transportation – Bus Service (e.g. Newport to Upper Valley; Claremont/Sullivan County)
– Digital Initiative – Training Program, Employment Opportunities
– Mentors – ‘Mentors with a Mission’
– Grant Writing – Training and Support
– Revitalize Main Street – Microbrew Pub, Boutiques, etc.
– Make Newport Fun, Cool Destination – Events, Image, Arts, Opera House, Library Art Center, etc.
– Newport Gardens – Beautification, Flowers, Sunflowers, Agriculture/Hydroponic Farming
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