Keene staff say $250,000 Resilient Communities grant will fund utility mapping and road‑rating studies

Staff updated the Planning and Zoning Commission on a $250,000 Resilient Communities Program grant the city received, saying the grant requires a kickoff meeting with the grant administrator and will fund mapping of underground utilities and street condition/ranking studies.

Speaker 3 said the city has not yet held the kickoff meeting because of scheduling around the Thanksgiving holiday and other tasks, but that the grant requires creating updated utility maps, conducting "migration studies" and street‑rating studies so the city can prioritize repairs instead of relying on anecdotal reports. "These are the roads that need to be addressed first," Speaker 3 said.

Staff described the grant as having "no match" and said the analysis will identify which street segments should be addressed first and assist budgeting and bid requests. Commissioners asked about public engagement and committee formation for the grant work; staff said they anticipate a kickoff meeting with the grant administrator to outline objectives and procurement steps.

The update did not include a firm timeline for when the kickoff will occur; staff said they will schedule the kickoff and follow up with the commission once it is set.