Blair Haney, a regional planner with the Shopper Regional Planning Commission, told Strafford County commissioners the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program’s Transformative Planning Grant (TPG) can provide $25,000 to move county‑owned housing concepts toward implementable projects.

Haney said the TPG is intended to build a regional pipeline of shovel‑ready public‑sector housing projects that can later qualify for implementation grants (up to $500,000). He asked commissioners to identify one or two priorities for study — for example, site identification, off‑site infrastructure needs (water/sewer) and permitting hurdles — and requested a simple map or concept plans the county has already developed to strengthen the application.

Commissioners discussed options including the previously studied Eric/Air Drive site, the idea of a ‘curtilage’ (housing adjacent to a nursing home to allow spouses/partners to remain nearby), and altered Army Corps of Engineers permitting guidance that may change site feasibility. Commissioners and Haney also discussed how the loss of $16.5 million in ARPA funding has shifted the county’s options and how parcels the county has already planned could be sold to or partnered with private developers to offset costs.

Why it matters: Haney said the $25,000 planning grant is relatively small but important to define permitting paths and infrastructure costs that determine whether a project can proceed to larger implementation funding. Commissioners appeared receptive and agreed to provide maps and concept plans to SRPC staff.

What’s next: Haney is finalizing a TPG submission due on a rolling basis and asked for a brief follow‑up workshop so county staff and commissioners can narrow priorities and provide the materials needed for the application.