Jan. 23 Sullivan County Hearings on $750K CDBG Small Business Grant

Sullivan County Commissioners are holding three public hearings at 2:30 p.m. today in Unity to discuss a proposed Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application that could funnel up to $750,000 into small-business support across the county. The hearings at 5 Nursing Home Drive, County Offices 1100, Unity, NH 03743 lay out project details, funding rules, and a relocation and anti-displacement plan tied to the award.

The first hearing provides an update and seeks public comment on existing microenterprise technical assistance projects funded by a federal CDBG awarded to Sullivan County. The second hearing reviews the county’s plan to submit an application to the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority under the CDBG program. CDBG awards in New Hampshire are competitive and intended for projects that primarily benefit low- and moderate-income people. Municipalities may apply for up to $750,000 per year in categories including housing, public facilities, economic development, microenterprise technical assistance, and emergency funds; up to $25,000 is available annually for feasibility studies.

The county’s proposal would, after administrative costs, sub-grant the funds to one or more agencies that would offer technical assistance, direct grants, and loans to entrepreneurs and small businesses with five or fewer employees in New Hampshire. That eligibility threshold targets microbusinesses common in Sullivan County’s villages and Main Street corridors, operations that often lack the capital or advisory resources larger firms access.

The third hearing is scheduled to adopt a Relocation and Anti-Displacement Plan specific to these projects, a required safeguard to minimize involuntary displacement tied to federally funded work. Commissioners invited members of the public to attend and provide oral or written comments; written comments may be sent to Sullivan County Commissioners, 5 Nursing Home Drive, County Offices 1100, Unity NH 03743 or emailed to commissioners@sullivancountynh.gov.

For residents who need accommodations, the Commissioner’s Office can be reached at 603-863-2560 or via Relay NH at 1-800-735-2964. The hearings offer a direct chance for small-business owners, nonprofit partners, and residents concerned about housing and local services to shape how federal dollars are directed in Sullivan County.

What happens next: if the county moves forward with the NH Community Development Finance Authority application, the decision will determine whether up to $750,000 becomes available to local partners for technical assistance, grants, and loans aimed at stabilizing and growing microenterprises. Residents with stakes in local commerce or housing should consider attending or submitting comments to influence how the funds would be distributed.