MONTPELIER, VT.: The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) will be selecting 35 businesses for awards through the Existing Dairy Processor Expansion Grant — $12,287,001 in funds given across eight states, with individual awards ranging from $25,852 to $1million. Over 3,200 dairy farmers will benefit from this processing expansion, stabilizing and expanding options for their milk and increasing the amount of local dairy on store shelves through the Northeast.

CONCORD: On Oct. 31, the House Election Law Committee advanced two bills, HB463, that establishes an election information portal, and HB447, a bill relative to Help America Vote Act Funds. Both bills are geared toward modernizing election infrastructure in New Hampshire by using existing federal funds to cover up to 50% of the cost of new ballot counting devices purchased by towns. Currently, New Hampshire has over $12.8 million in unused federal Help America Vote Act funds, which can be spent to upgrade election equipment.

BEDFORD: The Concord Group has been certified by Great Place To Work for the third year in a row, based on employee feedback. This year, 76% of employees said “it’s a great place to work.” According to Great Place To Work research, job seekers are 4.5 times more likely to find a great boss at a certified great workplace. Additionally, employees at certified workplaces are 93% more likely to look forward to coming to work, and are twice as likely to be paid fairly, earn a fair share of the company’s profits and have a fair chance at promotion.

WASHINGTON, D.C.: More than 80% of metro markets (182 out of 221) posted home price gains in the third quarter of 2023, as the 30-year fixed mortgage rate ranged from 6.81% to 7.31%, according to the National Association of Realtors’ latest quarterly report.

Eleven percent of the 221 tracked metro areas registered double-digit price increases over the same period, up from 5% in the second quarter. Compared to a year ago, the national median single-family existing-home price climbed 2.2% to $406,900. In the previous quarter, the year-over-year national median price declined 2.4%. Prices also grew 5.3% in the Northeast.

BANGOR, MAINE: Northern Light Acadia Hospital in Bangor is expanding its facility and adding more beds to its pediatric wing with a $50 million project that will still have 100 beds — 50 for adults and 50 for children — but will now be private, plus two different courtyards for children and adolescents. Patient rooms for adults will also be remodeled, as well as new group spaces for therapy, art and other activities.

WOLFEBORO: In order to help foster unity and end violence in schools and prisons, Project SunRize CEO David Vogel announced that SunRize’s parent company, White-Vogue Industries, Inc., will allocate 3% of net profits from every commercial solar project contracted over the next 18 months to support the efforts of the Council for Unity (CFU) across the U.S. Vogel mentors at-risk youth, and through this commercial solar initiative, he has committed to making a difference “for ids.”