Haverhill Heritage, Inc. (HHI) is an organization serving 42 communities, including some of the most economically and geographically disenfranchised in the heart of a rural, agricultural region. To illustrate, in Haverhill, NH where the organization is located, a 2015 American Community Survey indicated that 32% of residents ages 18 - 24 did not have a high school diploma. The last census data collected showed that 32.7% of households with children ages 5-17 had incomes below the poverty line.
The Wentworth Brown property is positioned to be a resource for the entire community, from students to artists, to those seeking to enhance employment skills, to senior citizens. Having a dedicated facility that is mission driven will establish the best pathway to fulfilling critical gaps and community development for an changing 21st Century world and workforce. In October 2016, HHI conducted a series of community engagement sessions. During these community listening sessions, a lack of tech equity was discussed as a concern among residents. Further investigation into this subject revealed that only one public computer was available for a population nearing 5,000 people. The available computer does not have sufficient or up-to-date software and its age prohibits functionality. There are no supporting educational opportunities such as basic computer skills classes offered in the area. The NH CDFA funding will allow HHI to dig deeper into these needs of the region and help us to develop a sustainable plan to fill community gaps that will create a brighter future for area residents.