Public Skate is open all week for school vacation at the JFK Coliseum from 2 PM to 4 PM. Adults are $5 and Children/Seniors are $3. Skate rental will be available all week for $5.
With help from our friends at the Manchester City Library a new StoryWalk is up on the Piscataquog Rail Trail. Walk down the beautiful rail trail and enjoy The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.
Lately, everyone is focusing on staying healthy in every aspect, including heart, mind and soul. Getting outdoors is a great remedy for whatever ails you.
Check out the opportunities for some great outdoor fun coming up in Manchester parks! Admittedly, today isn’t the best of days for outdoor play (brrrrr), but there is always hope for the future.
Tomorrow WILL be a better day!
Winter Newsletter
The City of Manchester has launched the Manchester Emergency Housing Assistance Program as a resource and tool for renters and homeowners to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This program is being offered as a part of the City’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) Support Program. This important initiative is being supported with Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus funding from the US Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Housing payments may cover a combination of arrearages and/or up to three (3) consecutive months following approved application of rent, mortgage or utility expenses that amount to $4,500.00.
Assistance is available to renters and homeowners living in the City of Manchester that are low or moderate income as defined by HUD. This program is offered in partnership with Southern New Hampshire Services. The application and the full list of eligibility requirements, eligible expenses, and required supporting documentation is available online at https://www.snhs.org/
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Southern New Hampshire Services at (603) 647-4470 or via e-mail housingassistance@snhs.org.
Immerse yourself in nature, mindfully using your senses to drive a whole range of benefits for your physical, mental, emotional, and social health. This program is for all fitness levels and designed as a slow wander through Stark Park.
There will be 4 sessions starting 2/19. Each session is from 10 AM to 11:30 AM and has a $15 fee.
Sign up here or using the QR code on the flyer.
You can now view our list of candidate filings for the upcoming Ward 6 Special Election to be held on March 2, 2021. This list will be updated daily to provide you with the current list of candidates seeking to fill the vacancy on the Board of Aldermen. Other ward 6 residents interested in serving the ward in this capacity can review our 'How to File..." link and a "Candidates Guide to Municipal Office".
All this information is available on our Voter Registration & Elections page along with any related forms necessary to become a candidate to serve your community.
MANCHESTER, NH – Today, Mayor Joyce Craig and the City of Manchester announced the distribution of the first round of grants through the Manchester Small Business Resiliency Grant Program. First announced on October 1st, this grant initiative was developed to help small businesses recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s critical that we support our small business community through this difficult time. I’m pleased to announce that we’ve distributed the first $30,000 of the Manchester Small Business Resiliency Grant Program to small businesses to use for expenses like online sales upgrades, payroll, utilities and rent,” said Mayor Joyce Craig.
Patz Deli LLC, CoCo Beauty Salon, The Smoothie Bus Shoppe, McGill's Inc, Lumiere LLC, and Tidewater Catering Group each received a $5,000 grant. The City allocated $250,000 for the grant program and currently has 36 pending applications in addition to the 6 distributed today.
The City of Manchester has contracted with The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Deo Mwano Consultancy for grant administration, marketing and outreach for the program.
Funds are offered through the US Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant Program. Eligible small businesses can receive a grant up to $5,000 to go toward eligible business expenses incurred since March 13, 2020.
Additional grants are available for eligible businesses. For more information, email smallbusinessgrant@manchesternh.gov. Eligible businesses can apply here.
The December/January edition of MCL Notes, the Manchester City Library's newsletter, is now available. Thank you for subscribing, and we wish you a happy holiday season and a happy new year!
The Manchester Planning Board is pleased to announce that a draft of the 2020 Manchester Master Plan is available for public review and comment. The Board would welcome any and all comments on the plan. In an effort to release a copy to the public as soon as possible, the draft is not in a completely polished form. The Board is aware of typographical errors and is working to address those while the draft is out for public review.
Please submit all comments by Friday, December 18. Comments can be submitted either by e-mailing masterplan@manchesternh.gov or by mail to:
Manchester Planning Boad
care of the Manchester Planning and Community Development Department
1 City Hall Plaza
Manchester, NH 03101
The Ward 6 Special Election has been scheduled for Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at the Henry J. McLaughlin Middle School located at 290 S. Mammoth Road. Ward 6 residents will vote to fill an aldermanic vacancy with a term expiration of January 4, 2022.
Voters can download an absentee ballot application for this election here.
We are excited to announce that work will begin later this week on the next phase of the Sheehan-Basquil Park Renovation! Improvements include an interactive splash pad, brand new playground and enhanced lighting. Construction is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2021.
Today, Mayor Joyce Craig has released the final map for the third annual ‘Halloween at City Hall,’ scheduled for Friday, October 30, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. This year’s event will also include ‘Downtown Trick-or-Treat,’ with trick-or-treaters encouraged to visit downtown participating businesses for a Halloween treat.
For two hours, students, parents, and children are invited to come downtown and get a free book from the Bookmobile, meet Mayor Craig, and grab Halloween treats from participating downtown businesses. The expected forecast is chilly with potential snowfall, so participants should expect to bundle up.
“Halloween looks a little different this year, I’m excited to offer a fun, new, and safe way for kids to trick-or-treat downtown this year,” said Mayor Joyce Craig. “I encourage families to come downtown and support local businesses -- just make sure to dress warm and wear a mask!”
Halloween at City Hall will take place outside in City Hall Plaza. All participants are asked to adhere to social distancing and to wear a mask.
Participating organizations include 900 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria, Ben & Jerry’s, Boards & Brews, Bonfire Restaurant & Country Bar, Bookery Manchester, City Hall, Creative Framing Solutions, Congressman Chris Pappas’ Office, Cookson Communications, Diz’s Cafe, Foundry, Framers Market, Granite State Candy Shoppe, New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, Republic of Campo, WZID, and the YMCA.
October 20, 2020
(Manchester, NH) -- “Homelessness is a crisis affecting our city, communities throughout our state, and throughout our country. For months, we've watched as unsheltered individuals set up an encampment on state-owned land where the Hillsborough North Superior Courthouse is located. And today, it's estimated that approximately 25 people are living on that state-owned land in Manchester.
The City and our local service providers conduct outreach on a daily basis, and police patrol the area to ensure no illegal activity is occurring. While the City is doing everything it can to keep the area safe, the State has jurisdiction over this property.
In September, the State posted “no camping” signs on the state-owned property, but during a recent call, they did not share any plans to move individuals from the location. Throughout the course of the conversation, the State advised that no one, including unsheltered individuals, would be prevented from being on their property, confirmed there’s no curfew, and made it clear that they were focused on an anti-camping provision, not an anti-loitering provision.
The State cannot move individuals from state-owned land unless they can identify a specific bed for each individual, which is the same situation Manchester and other communities are in. This is why for over three years, the City has been advocating that the State increase the number of emergency shelter beds, supportive housing, and affordable housing options statewide.
The State plays a significant role in ensuring that all communities have the tools and resources they need to prevent and end homelessness. However, the last time the State completed a statewide plan to address homelessness was in 2006. The State is now in the same position that Manchester and many other communities are in, where unsheltered individuals are living on public land, with no other sheltering options available.
Winter is around the corner. And while we're actively preparing for emergency winter sheltering and making fatality prevention plans -- the City of Manchester can't solve this problem alone. We all have a shared responsibility to help our most vulnerable residents, and it's past time for the State to acknowledge their role and take action.”
MANCHESTER, NH – On Saturday, October 24, the Manchester City Clerk’s Office, located at City Hall, 1 City Hall Plaza, will be open extended hours from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for ‘Voting Saturday.’ Residents will be able to come in to register to vote, request an absentee ballot or vote absentee in person.
The last day to register to vote at the City Clerk’s office is Wednesday, October 28. However, eligible voters are able to register to vote on Election Day, November 3 at their polling location. Visit the City of Manchester website for more information on how to vote during COVID-19, and where to find your polling location.
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