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Keene Sustainable Energy Plan

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The City of Keene launched a new website on Keene’s Sustainable Energy Planning process. The website includes a roadmap of pathways, strategies, and tools to achieve Keene’s energy goals, and you can listen to stories to learn more about tools like Community Power.

The Keene Energy and Climate Committee and City staff are looking for your ideas and feedback. Please, take the survey on how Keene should define renewable energy as the City develops an energy plan, and tell them what you think of the draft vision statement for the planning process. You can visit KeeneEnergyPlan.com to learn more.

Stories From the Field: Celebrating our Local Food System in Words

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Farmers and community members from throughout the Monadnock Region take to the stage to share their stories at Stonewall Farm on Thursday, April 16, 2020, 5:30pm – 7:30pm. Join Monadnock Farm & Community Coalition as we celebrate our newly updated strategic plan and the Local Heroes who make our thriving local food community tick!

Dinner | Potluck dessert | Cash bar

$10 pp/ 75 maximum
Kids 12 & under eat free
Cash donations for dinner accepted – we want everyone there!
RSVP REQUIRED

RSVP or NOMINATE SOMEONE
DO YOU KNOW someone who is a natural-born storyteller? MFCC is taking nominations to join others on stage. We are NOT looking for Broadway actors…we ARE looking for stories from the tragic to the hilarious that provide a glimpse into the lives of those working in the local food system. View details.
Nomination deadline: February 17, 2020

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A Decade of Plaid Friday Celebrations in the Monadnock Region

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For the tenth year, independent businesses and community members in the Monadnock Region will celebrate Plaid Friday on the day after Thanksgiving. This year’s event falls on Friday, November 29, 2019.

Individuals will wear plaid on Plaid Friday to show support for the local economy and their commitment to spending more of their dollars at locally owned businesses during the holiday season. Last year, nearly 400 community members pledged to participate in Plaid Friday.

To amplify this year’s event, Savings Bank of Walpole will host a Plaid Friday Week from Friday, November 29 to Tuesday, December 3.  The bank will set up information tables at each of their branches with Plaid Friday swag to inspire more people to participate in this year’s event.  Community members are encouraged to wear plaid throughout this week and stop by the bank’s Marlboro Street branch to take a selfie in front of the bank’s…

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Are You Ready? TLC Monadnock RFP Period is Open

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  • Do you have an incredible project just waiting to happen — one that would strengthen your business, our community and the local economy — if only you had the funds to make it happen?
  • Is your business a “social enterprise” that addresses social and/or environmental issues?
  • Will your project support community goals, while keeping to a budget of $15,000 or less?

If you said yes to these questions…THANK YOU!  You are part of the emerging Fourth Sector economy — a sector that uses the power of business to do good things for people and the planet.

The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock believes in people like you.  That’s why we’re participating in a new research project in conjunction with the National Science Foundation and The Local Crowd designed to uncover the best ways to support Fourth Sector enterprises. We are pleased to invite you to participate in this project.

Learn more and download our Request for Proposals

We will accept proposals until 5 p.m. on Friday, May 10, 2019.  TLC Monadnock will select up to six local businesses to participate in this pilot study — and the top proposal will receive a free crowdfunding video from 710 Main Films to support their campaign.

Have questions? Please contact Jen Risley at marketing@monadnockfood.coop or 603-283-5401.

TLC Monadnock is hosted by the Monadnock Food Co-op and supported by our community partners: Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center and Monadnock Economic Development Corporation.

The Local Crowd Monadnock – Mailing Address: 63 Emerald St. #114, Keene, NH 03431
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First Friday Pilot Project in Keene

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On March 20, eight local organizations gathered to explore a collaboration to launch a First Friday pilot project in Keene, NH this summer.  The goal of this pilot includes developing a year-round First Friday program that strengthens the economic and cultural well-being of downtown Keene.

Inspiration

Current Partners

Next Steps

  • Form action groups around community engagement, funding, communications and pop-up galleries.
  • Plan for a soft launch in July or August.

Ways to get involved?

To learn more, please contact Carolyn Sweet at carolyns@machinaarts.org or 603-309-6339

 

 

Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund

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2018 Grant Cycle Request for Proposal Applications are due February 1, 2018.

You can find the Request for Proposals HERE, then you can apply by filling out the word doc application here and or the PDF version here.

Funds can be used for a range of needs including the purchase of equipment or infrastructure, packaging and labeling design needs, and technical assistance. Eligible applicants include farms in Cheshire County and abutting NH towns who would like to develop or expand their production for wholesale markets, including the Monadnock Food Co-op and Monadnock Menus.

Learn more about the Co-op’s Farm Fund.

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Banking on “Green” of the Sustainable Kind

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Originally Published at Bensonwood

When the Savings Bank of Walpole wanted to reimagine their new Keene, NH, branch to service the city’s northernmost sector, they hired local green-builder, Bensonwood, of Walpole, NH, to break different ground. As a harbinger for their new branches going forward, the new branch would need to be energy efficient, friendly, open and accessible, all while providing a superior experience for customers and employees alike.

MoCo Moves: Building MoCo Arts’ Future

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If you haven’t driven down Roxbury Street in Keene in recent months, it might look a bit different. The spot where the former YMCA once stood is now a clean slate ready for MoCo Arts to build anew.  This prime site, directly across from Hannah Grimes Center, will have the chance to serve the families of the Monadnock region once again.

MoCo Arts was founded 25 years ago in its current building, a modest former machine shop. Since then enrollment has grown 225%; the building has not! MoCo is an important part of Keene’s creative economy and a significant contributor to a vibrant Main Street.  Serving 2,300+ students a year, MoCo children and their families are patrons of local coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and many other businesses that keep Keene’s downtown thriving.  Many community leaders believe this hub for the arts will have a spillover effect to further redevelopment of Keene’s East Side.

For MoCo, the chance to create a vibrant downtown hub for creative arts education for children — just steps from Main Street and Central Square — is a chance to enhance their mission of Transforming Lives Through Movement and Creative Expression. For many young people, transportation to activities and events is a barrier to opportunity. Remaining downtown ensures that students can access MoCo’s highly-regarded dance and theatre classes and award winning multi-arts camps by school bus, public transportation, bicycle, or on foot. Accessibility is a MoCo guiding value; welcoming and inclusive arts education for all, regardless of financial, social or other barriers.

Support MoCo Moves Today!

MoCo Moves: Building MoCo Arts’ Future is a $5 Million dollar capital campaign to build new studios and reach more students. Currently, $4.1 Million has been fundraised and MoCo needs your help to get to the finish line. For more information about this exciting project, visit www.move.moco.org, or call MoCo Arts at 603-357-2100.

The Local Crowd Monadnock Launches Online on Wednesday

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Archway Farm instagramThe Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock will launch online on Wednesday, March 15, 2017 at noon with two 30-day campaigns focused on supporting sustainable agriculture:

  • Archway Farm’s “Farm to Table on Wheels” project
  • Stonewall Farm’s “Barn Raising” project

Both campaigns are based in Keene, NH.  Individuals can contribute online to either campaign regardless of where they live, inside or outside of the Monadnock Region.

Each campaign will offer a limited number of rewards to individuals who give at certain financial levels.  For example, Archway Farm offers a Sausage Club to individuals who give $75.  Sausage Club members receive one pound of four different kinds of Archway Farm sausages, each featuring an ingredient from a local farm.  The first sausage is a Cheddar Smoked Bratwurst made with Stonewall Farm cheese.

A kick-off celebration is scheduled at Stonewall Farm on Saturday, March 18, 2017 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Local Crowd Monadnock Launch Party includes food samples, children’s activity stations and hayrides. Members of TLC Monadnock’s Leadership Team will attend to answer questions and handout resources.  This event is free and open to the public.

Register today

About The Local Crowd Monadnock

TLC Monadnock is a locally based crowdfunding platform that empowers individuals to support the businesses, organizations and initiatives that grow wealthier and healthier communities in the region.  Crowdfunding, or the practice of raising funds to support a project from a large number of people, is a viable alternative to recruiting businesses from outside the region to boost economic activity.

This project is part of a two-year research study funded by a USDA Small Business Innovation Research grant to gauge this platform’s effectiveness in rural areas.  During its pilot phase, TLC Monadnock will only accept campaign proposals from businesses, organizations or community initiatives based in Keene, Chesterfield, Hinsdale, Swanzey or Winchester.  TLC Monadnock will give preference to campaigns from these communities that align with their respective city or town’s master plan and contribute to a local, green and fair economy.

TLC Monadnock is a collaboration of regional economic development organizations working to cultivate a stronger ecosystem of investors, service providers and local economy champions.  A team of community leaders from Southwest Region Planning Commission, Monadnock Buy Local, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center, Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Monadnock Economic Development Corporation and Hannah Grimes Center manages this crowdfunding platform.

Discover more details and updates or contact Jen Risley at jen@monadnocklocal.org or 603-499-7950.

Community Supported Solar Presentation

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The Monadnock Sustainability Network is hosting a Community Supported Solar presentation at The Barn at the Harrisville Inn, Harrisville, NH on Thursday, March 23rd, from 6-8 pm.

We will discuss the new financial resource pioneered on the Monadnock Food Co-op.

Locally owned Community Supported Solar expands access to clean solar electricity. Find out how we can increase our energy independence and resilience; reduce our carbon footprint while boosting the financial strength of our communities.

The Monadnock Food Co-op (Co-op) is the host of the first locally owned community supported solar project in the Monadnock region. The 43.5 kW photovoltaic project, completed in May, 2016, is owned by Cypress Community Solar LLC which was formed to own the project and sell clean, locally harvested electricity to the Co-op. The company is owned by a group of local investors, who expect to sell the PV system to the Co-op within ten years.  The company and the Co-op have entered into a Power Purchase Agreement under which the Co-op will purchase all of the electricity produced by the project.

Most community solar projects are owned and controlled by developers or utilities. This locally developed, funded, owned and controlled project is Community Supported Solar, hopefully the first of many.  With the support of grants from the New England Grassroots Environment Fund, MSN managed the AUNE research and the formation of the steering committee for the initial project. Then MSN published the NH Community Supported Solar Guide to be used by others to pursue a locally owned, clean, renewable energy system on their school, CSA farm, church or other site in their community.