The City of Keene was designated by the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs as a "Housing Champion" in December 2024. The designation is valid for three years from the date of designation. As a New Hampshire Housing Champion, the City is eligible to apply for two grants:
• The Housing Production Municipal Grant Fund (with $1.5 million in available funding), and
• The Housing Infrastructure Municipal Grant (with $3.5 million in available funding).
The City of Keene is one of only 18 communities statewide to receive this recognition. High marks were earned for the City’s proactive and innovative steps to address housing needs, including:
- Zoning Updates: Significant amendments to the City’s Zoning and Land Use Regulations to encourage housing development, such as adopting a Cottage Court Overlay District and expanding options for accessory dwelling units.
- Infrastructure Investments: Enhancements to transportation, walkability, and water/sewer infrastructure. The downtown infrastructure project, for example, will significantly bolster the reliability of essential systems needed to support housing.
- Stakeholder Training: Educational training for board members and community stakeholders such as real estate professionals, builders, architects, engineers, and others to keep them informed of the latest building code and zoning changes.
About the Housing Champions Program
The New Hampshire Housing Champions is a voluntary incentive program adopted by the state legislature in 2023 to encourage affordable housing development. Municipalities designated as Housing Champions are eligible to apply for grants to help them develop solutions and advance infrastructure that will help alleviate the state’s housing shortage. The program is administered by the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs (NH BEA).
