USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT INVESTS $765K IN DISTANCE LEARNING, TELEMEDICINE
U.S. Department of Agriculture State Director for Rural Development in Vermont and New Hampshire, Sarah Waring, announced that $765,211 in grant funding for two Twin State institutions. The UNH Center for Digital Health Innovation received $129,746, and Vermont State University received $635,465 to improve and diversify remote access to health care and education through the Agency’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant program.
The UNH Center for Digital Health Innovation in Durham will use the funding to equip Granite State sites in Strafford, Sullivan, Carroll and Grafton counties, as well as Maine’s Kennebec County, with videoconferencing, assistive technologies and virtual-reality equipment, offering modern physical rehabilitation and mental health services to underserved rural areas.
Featuring libraries, cooperative extension offices, and youth and senior centers, the sites serve roughly 70,000 rural residents. UNH is making a $19,462 contribution to the initiative.
To benefit more than 5,500 students, VTSU will invest the DLT funds and its $96,600 contribution to enhance teleconferencing equipment for learning sites throughout the state.
DSR MOTOR GROUP ACQUIRES DAN O’BRIEN KIA IN CONCORD
Family-owned and operated New England automotive retail company DSR Motor Group announced the acquisition of Dan O’Brien Kia in Concord.
The newly rebranded Capital City Kia is the latest addition to the DSR Motor Group family, founded by Dealer Principal David Rosenberg.
Lifelong New Hampshire resident Dennis Wilson Jr. will serve as Capital City Kia’s general manager and operating partner. “Living in New Hampshire, our family understands what it means to be a part of this community. It’s more than delivering exceptional service and a Fast, Fair, and Simple car-buying experience. It’s about rolling up our sleeves and doing right by the people of Concord,” Wilson explained.
“We look forward to building lasting relationships with our customers and giving back to the local charities, small businesses and community organizations that make a difference here,” Wilson concluded.
The all-new Capital City Kia is open for business at 158 Manchester Street in Concord.
LACONIA TAX RATE FALLS TO $13.91, BUT THAT’S NOT ALL
Laconia’s tax rate, set at $13.91 late last month by the state, is now the lowest it has been in recent history.
City Manager Kirk Beattie said tax bills are currently being sent out to city property owners, though he said those who wish to know sooner can use the new tax rate, combined with the recent valuation of city properties, to calculate how much they’ll owe for property taxes.
The 2023 rate of $13.91 is almost a dollar lower than the previous rate of $14.85, which was itself the lowest rate since at least 1995, as far back as a chart on the city website tracks. The highest rate on that chart was in 1996, when the tax rate was set at $27.74.
Of the 2023 rate, both the portion for city expenses ($5.79) and local schools ($5.94) declined relative to the previous year, while the portion for county ($0.98) and state education ($1.20) increased.
Though the tax rate fell in comparison to the prior year, that’s only half of the equation that determines how much a property owner pays in taxes. The other half is the value of the property, and a recent revaluation found that most properties increased in value. The combination of those two factors means that most tax bills will end up with an amount due that looks similar to last year’s bill, likely slightly higher.
