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Strafford County seeks federal earmarks for warming center, $600,000‑plus window replacement at Riverside Rest Home
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Summary
The Strafford County Commission said March 26 it applied to Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s office for two congressional‑directed spending requests: funding for the county’s warming center and just over $600,000 to replace aging windows at Riverside Rest Home, citing heating and boiler problems that are affecting resident room temperatures.
The Strafford County Commission announced March 26 that it has applied to U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s office for two congressional‑directed spending requests: funding for the county’s warming center and a request of just over $600,000 to replace the windows at Riverside Rest Home.
Chair said the earmarks, if awarded, would reduce the direct impact on local property taxpayers. "We've applied for that," the Chair said, adding that the projects are competitive and outcomes are uncertain. The Chair said the county applied specifically for the warming center and "a little over $600,000" for the replacement of the Riverside windows, and clarified that the request includes labor costs.
County staff described operational heating problems at Riverside, saying thermostats and infrared checks showed resident rooms at about 65°F while window surfaces were much colder. "The windows themselves were 50 years old," the Chair said, arguing replacement is needed to maintain temperatures for residents. A committee member reported a developing leak in one of two front‑building boilers, and commissioners said they plan to pursue additional federal and rural health grant opportunities, noting a broad pool of rural health money appears to be opening nationally.
A county official said much of the application work is already drafted — costs and justifications are prepared — and the county will adapt forms when the federal application portal opens. "The information...the primary justification writing and costs and everything already are all done for those two projects," the committee member said, and advised the formal application materials will be finalized once the official forms are released.
The county also indicated it will pursue further improvements to Riverside, including boilers and roof repairs, but said those additional requests were not on the meeting agenda and will be discussed in coming weeks. The Commission did not record any formal action or award decision at the March 26 meeting; the applications were described as submitted and pending.
Next steps: commission staff will monitor the federal application timeline and finalize required application materials when the portal opens.
