Manchester, NH: City - Advisory

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Manchester, NH: City - Advisory

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Mayor Ruais testifies at Statehouse in support of SB 14 and SB 15

Bills would increase jail time for certain fentanyl-related offenses and

distribution of controlled drugs that result in death

MANCHESTER, NH – Mayor Jay Ruais testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee today, throwing his support behind two bills (SB 14 and SB 15) aimed at increasing penalties related to fentanyl possession and distributing a controlled drug that results in death.

Ruais told the committee, “As mayor, my most important responsibility is safety, a big component of which is dealing with our opioid epidemic -- that includes the scourge of fentanyl.   The ripple effect Fentanyl has had on children, families and neighborhoods cannot be understated; it has been devastating. Even one life lost is too many. The good news is, we are fighting back, and with help from legislative efforts like SB 14, and SB 15 we will make even more gains.

“Working with our community partners and the State of New Hampshire, opioid overdoses fell 24%, and fatalities from overdoses dropped 21% in 2024. These are incredibly encouraging results,” said Ruais. “Additionally, in December of 2024, we recorded the lowest 1-month suspected opioid overdose response total in nearly 5 years in Manchester. We are making progress, and that’s exactly why we cannot let up in our efforts.”

Ruais shared additional statistics saying, “Of the over 4,500 arrests conducted by the Manchester Police Department in 2024, 889 of them were drug-related, that’s nearly 20-percent.

And, half of those drug-related arrests were for fentanyl or heroin. The number of cases with fentanyl greater than 5 grams was 103. 26 of them were greater than 28 grams. In total, the City of Manchester seized more than 7,300 grams of fentanyl/heroin in 2024.”

“By establishing a mandatory minimum sentence of 3 years and 6 months for those convicted of possessing more than 5 grams or more of fentanyl, and sentences of 7 years in prison for those convicted of possessing 28 grams, we have even more ammunition to combat the scourge on our streets that has ruined too many lives and stolen too many futures. SB 14 and SB 15 send strong messages that New Hampshire is serious about deadly drugs like fentanyl – and if you are found in possession of this killer drug, or you distribute this type of controlled drug and it results in someone’ death, you will face significant jail time. In the end, the people who peddle this poison have no place on the streets of Manchester,” Ruais added.

The mayor ended by saying, “While SB 14 and SB 15 will be incredibly helpful in the fight against fentanyl on our streets, an equally important companion issue is Bail Reform. I look forward to working with legislators in Concord on this and other pressing public safety concerns.”  

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Manchester, NH: City - Advisory

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Manchester awarded $2 Million SMART Transportation Grant

Funds will help improve traffic flow and safety in congested areas

MANCHESTER, NH – Mayor Jay Ruais announced today that the City of Manchester has been awarded a $2 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, one of 34 given out across 21 states for a total of $50 million. These Stage 1 Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants use technology to address community needs. The SMART Program aims to help communities leverage technology to create safer, more efficient, and innovative transportation systems.

   Commenting on the impact of the grant, Ruais said, “As Manchester continues its positive growth, we are right to focus on how traffic is being affected. This SMART Grant will help increase vehicle flow as well as safety in corridors that are currently susceptible to congestion. Improving our traffic management in the city will benefit drivers, pedestrians and businesses alike.” 

   The City of Manchester, with support from Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission, applied for and received the maximum Stage 1 SMART grant award of $2 Million out of a total of 308 applications submitted for this program. The project will evaluate existing traffic operations on Maple Street, Beech Street, Pine Street, and Chestnut Street south of Bridge Street and one corridor will then be selected to install/implement advanced traffic signal technology. Installation of state-of-the-art equipment will optimize corridor timing, and improve the management of traffic signals to reduce delay and emissions while improving safety and communications. 

   Following the completion of the Stage 1 demonstration project, the City of Manchester would be eligible to apply for the Stage 2 grant program which could provide up to an additional $15 million in funding to expand this technology within the city.

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• Manchester’s Community Improvement Program (CIP) Team is launching an update to its 5-Year Consolidated Plan for HUD funding and encourages residents to get involved by attending one of its three public hearings or complete a brief survey.
• Over the next 5 years, the City anticipates receiving an annual average of $2.5 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the form of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Program, and Emergency Solution Grant (ESG) program funds.
• The City needs your input and ideas to ensure its plan accurately reflects the needs of the community and its funding decisions are shaped by residents’ priorities. There are 3 public hearing opportunities to attend and make your voice heard:

1. Tuesday, February 11, 2025 (6:00-7:30 pm), located at the Carol M. Rines Center, 1528 Elm Street
2. Wednesday, February 12, 2025 (6:00-7:30 pm), located at the Manchester Community Resource Center (MCRC), 434 Lake Avenue (4^th Floor); or
3. Thursday, February 13, 2025 (6:00-7:30 pm), located at the Elmwood Gardens Community Center, 83 Trahan Street.

Topics to be discussed include healthy neighborhoods, economic development, home ownership and affordable housing development, addressing homelessness, health and human services, recreational opportunities, and infrastructure improvements. Refreshments will be served and there will be activities for children. 

• Please also participate in our Community Survey using the following address:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SPHF85F

• For questions and more information on this planning effort, please visit the ConPlan webpage using this link, or contact CIP Grants Administrator, Dan Orr, at dorr@manchesternh.gov, or (603) 792-6711.

Park Construction Corporation will continue construction activities on the Christian Brook Sewer Separation project during the week of January 6^th through January 10^th.

Crew 1: Will be performing maintenance work and will start installation of trash hoods inside catch basins on Sagamore Street between Belmont Street and Skyview Road. This will include pumping out the water from the catch basins to allow entry into the structures.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the project team.

Manchester, NH: City - Advisory

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Mayor Ruais Announces Ward 1 Town Hall meeting on January 14

MANCHESTER, NH – Mayor Ruais announced the following event today:

WHAT:           Ward 1 Town Hall Meeting

WHEN:            Tuesday, January 14, from 6:00pm - 7:00pm

WHERE:         Webster Elementary School, 2519 Elm Street 

NOTE:            Ward 1 Alderman Chris Morgan and Ward 1 School Board Member Julie Turner have been invited. 

                                                                                                        ###                            

Mayor Ruais applauds significant decrease in overdoses/fatalities in city for 2024

MANCHESTER, NH – Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais issued the following statement today regarding American Medical Response’s (AMR) year-end numbers on overdose and fatality numbers for 2024:  

    “AMR’s report out today showing a steep decline in opioid overdoses and opioid fatalities in the city for 2024 is incredibly encouraging. I want to thank our Health Department Director Anna Thomas and AMR, as well as our local and state partners for this marked improvement and lives saved.  As a person in recovery, there is nothing I am more proud of than seeing significant improvements in this area because one life lost is too many.”

AMR 2024 TOTALS:

• Manchester recorded 24% less suspected opioid overdoses in 2024 than 2023
• Manchester recorded 21% less suspected opioid deaths in 2024 than 2023  

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Manchester, NH: City - Advisory

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Please be advised that the City of Manchester has experienced no CSO activations during the past 12 hours.

For more detailed CSO discharge information please go to EPD's website at:

https://www.manchesternh.gov/csomap

Thank you

Please be advised that the City of Manchester has experienced CSO activations due to heavy rainfall and corresponding high flows.

For more detailed CSO discharge information please go to EPD's website at:

https://www.manchesternh.gov/csomap

Thank you

Please be advised that the City of Manchester has experienced no CSO activations during the past 12 hours.

For more detailed CSO discharge information please go to EPD's website at:

https://www.manchesternh.gov/csomap

Thank you

The Manchester Health Department will be closing at noon on Tuesday, December 31st and will be closed on Wednesday, January 1st.

We will reopen at 8:00 am on Thursday, January 2nd.

Walk-in immunization clinics will be held on:

Thursday January 2, from 3:00 – 6:00pm, as regularly scheduled.

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El Departamento de Salud de Manchester cerrará al medio día el Martes 31 de Diciembre y estará cerrado el Miércoles 1 de Enero. 

Volveremos a abrir a las 8:00 am el 1 de Enero.

Las clínicas de vacunas sin cita previa se llevarán a cabo en:

Jueves, 2 de Enero de 3:00 a 6:30 pm, según lo programado regularmente.

Please be advised that the City of Manchester has experienced CSO activations due to heavy rainfall and corresponding high flows.

For more detailed CSO discharge information please go to EPD's website at:

https://www.manchesternh.gov/csomap

Thank you

Read the Manchester Parks & Rec Year in Review newsletter.  Learn about the exciting new projects, programs and events that made 2024 so special.  Plus, discover Parks & Rec programs that will keep you and your family active over the holidays and throughout the winter.

For Immediate Release                                                                                                              Contact: Philip J. Alexakos, MPH, REHS

December 23, 2024                                                                                                                     palexako@manchesternh.gov  603-657-2712

The City of Manchester Health Department Releases

the 2024 Greater Manchester Community Health Improvement Plan

MANCHESTER, NH - The City of Manchester Health Department announced today that it has released the 2024 Greater Manchester Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). The CHIP is the result of a collaborative process, engaging stakeholders from across the public and private sectors, with the goal of serving as a roadmap to improve the health of the community. It represents a shared vision to improve health based upon the findings from the most recent Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) released in 2022. The Assessment identified six priority areas for action which include:

1.   Improve Educational Outcomes
2.   Reduce and Prevent Substance Misuse
3.   Improve Access to Quality Preventive Healthcare
4.   Improve Access to Healthy Foods
5.   Improve Access to Health-Promoting Affordable Housing
6.   Prevent and Address Trauma

Community partners engaged in a series of sessions to develop goals and strategies that address the identified priority areas. The City of Manchester Health Department, as the “Chief Health Strategist” for the community, will be charged with convening stakeholders on a regular basis, measuring progress toward health improvement and making the data easily accessible. The CHIP was developed by the City of Manchester Health Department (MHD) in partnership with the NH Community Health Institute, Bow, New Hampshire, a subsidiary of John Snow Inc. with support from Catholic Medical Center, Dartmouth Health, and Elliot Health System.

The CHIP can be accessed by visiting: https://www.manchesternh.gov/Portals/2/Departments/HEALTH/Rchip2024Reportfinal.pdf

About the City of Manchester Health Department:

Established in 1839, the City of Manchester Health Department (MHD) is an innovative and proactive local health department grounded in the principles and application of the core public health functions. Nearly sixty full and part-time staff work within five Branches and Teams: Neighborhood and Family Health, Infectious Disease, Environmental Public Health/Emergency Response, Healthy Aging and the Public Health and Safety Team. Our mission is “to improve the health of individuals, families, and the community through disease prevention, health promotion, and protection from environmental threats” with an aim to work both across its Branches and with other community partners to improve the public’s health.

Manchester designated a New Hampshire Housing Champion

Recognition qualifies city to apply for millions in grant funding to

help advance innovative housing initiatives and infrastructure improvements

MANCHESTER, NH – Mayor Jay Ruais announced today that Manchester has been designated as a New Hampshire Housing Champion by the state’s Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA). This allows the city to apply for grants that will further advance innovative housing initiatives and infrastructure improvements.

     “Addressing our housing challenges and increasing our supply of affordable units is a collaborative effort,” said Mayor Ruais. “Being designated a Housing Champion increases our funding options, so I am deeply grateful to the BEA. This designation was made possible by our Economic Development Director Jodie Nazaka. The application process was time consuming, but she made certain Manchester was one of the cities that came out on top. Jodie is an amazing advocate for the city and I truly appreciate her efforts.”

    Ruais added, “This is top priority of ours. Since January 1, the city has issued Certificates of Occupancy for 543 new dwelling units, the Planning Board approved 600 new dwelling units and we have 707 active units under construction. Additionally, we sold 15 parcels of unused land generating $1.13 million for our Affordable Housing Trust Fund and we’re in the middle of a city-wide rezoning effort which is a generational opportunity to add housing to our city.”

       Taylor Caswell, Commissioner of the BEA, congratulated Manchester on the honor saying, “This prestigious recognition is a testament to your community’s outstanding commitment to fostering an environment that supports innovative and sustainable solutions to address New Hampshire’s housing needs. Your efforts have demonstrated leadership and vision in creating pathways for housing development that will positively impact residents and contribute to solving the state’s housing crisis.”

     As a Housing Champion, Manchester is now eligible to apply for the following grants starting in January of 2025:

• The Housing Production Municipal Grant Fund (with $1.5 million in available funding)
• The Housing Infrastructure Municipal Grant (with $3.5 million in available funding)

Note:  The designation is valid for 3 years from the date of designation, with a renewal for subsequent 3-year periods.

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The Manchester Health Department will be closing at noon on Tuesday, December 24th and will be closed on Wednesday, December 25th.

We will reopen at 8:00 am on December 26^th, however there will be NO immunization clinic on Thursday, December 26th. 

Walk-in immunization clinics will be held on

Monday, December 23rd from 1:00 – 3:30pm and

Tuesday, December 24th from 9:00 – 11:30am

as regularly scheduled.

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El Departamento de Salud de Manchester cerrará al medio día el martes 24 de diciembre y estará cerrado el miércoles 25 de diciembre. 

Volveremos a abrir a las 8:00 am el 26 de diciembre, sin embargo, NO habrá clínica de vacunación el jueves 26 de diciembre.

Las clínicas de vacunas sin cita previa se llevarán a cabo en:

Lunes, 23 de diciembre de 1:30 a 3:30 pm

Martes, 24 de diciembre de 9:00 a 11:30 am

según lo programado regularmente

Please be advised that the City of Manchester has experienced no CSO activations during the past 12 hours.

For more detailed CSO discharge information please go to EPD's website at:

https://www.manchesternh.gov/csomap

Thank you

Please be advised that the City of Manchester has experienced CSO activations due to heavy rainfall and corresponding high flows.

For more detailed CSO discharge information please go to EPD's website at:

https://www.manchesternh.gov/csomap

Thank you

Please be advised that the City of Manchester has experienced no CSO activations during the past 12 hours.

For more detailed CSO discharge information please go to EPD's website at:

https://www.manchesternh.gov/csomap

Thank you

Please be advised that the City of Manchester has experienced CSO activations due to heavy rainfall and corresponding high flows.

For more detailed CSO discharge information please go to EPD's website at:

https://www.manchesternh.gov/csomap

Thank you

Mayor Updates Veterans’ Initiative: 16 Homeless Veterans now Housed

MANCHESTER, NH – Three months after launching an initiative to effectively end homelessness in Manchester for retired military service members by January of 2026, Mayor Jay Ruais announced today a total of 16 homeless veterans have new places to call home.

   “The success of this program is incredibly gratifying,” said Ruais “In three months, we’ve gotten 16 veterans into safe and stable housing – something they have all earned and deserve. As I said at our kickoff event back in September, we’ve set our sights high because in Manchester we don’t shrink from a challenge and we don’t shirk our responsibilities. Even one homeless military service member is too many. Now, we can truly say we’re making progress and changing lives.”  

   “We are proud to be partnering on this important mission,” stated Henry Och, CEO of Harbor Care. “At Harbor Care, we are committed to ending veteran homelessness and we appreciate the mayor’s leadership in this critical endeavor. Great momentum has been built in the first 80 days, but no one agency can do this alone. It requires buy-in and partnership across the community. Together, we succeed.”

  Ruais ended by saying, “I want to thank Harbor Care and our city landlords who are committing even more units to the initiative as well as the community partners who are helping to house veterans all across the city.”

Note: Landlords and non-profits groups interested in joining the mayor’s initiative to help house homeless veterans can email mayor@manchesternh.gov

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