Rep. Kuster meets with American Rescue Plan grantees in Cheshire County.

Keene, N.H. — Yesterday, Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02) met with Cheshire County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grantees at MoCo Arts to hear about how they utilized ARPA resources for their operations. Rep. Kuster played a critical role advocating for New Hampshire organizations in the ARPA negotiations. The first round of Cheshire County-directed ARPA funding was received on June 17th, 2021, for an amount of $7,389,309.50.

During the visit, Rep. Kuster heard from Chris Coates, Cheshire County Administrator; Mindy Camblar, CEO, Hundred Nights Homeless Shelter; Alec Doyle, Director, Colonial Theater and Tom Minkler Chair of Colonial Theater; Reagan Messer, Director MoCo Arts; Luca Paris, Keene Chamber; Beth Woods, Owner, 21 Bar and Grill; and Mark Tigan with the Winchester Economic Development Corp. 

“The American Rescue Plan was one of the most consequential pieces of legislation I have voted for in Congress, in part because of the flexibility and support it provided for towns and communities to utilize resources for their specific needs,” said Rep. Kuster. “That feature of the legislation was on full display yesterday as ARPA recipients from Cheshire County outlined how the American Rescue Plan is supporting their communities. The collaboration between the county, local municipalities, non-profits, small businesses, and the federal government is the perfect example of how we can work together to ensure no one is left behind as we recover. I was proud to help secure this funding for the region and will continue working to bolster our Granite State economy and workforce to ensure New Hampshire continues to thrive.”

“This funding was a lifeline for MoCo Arts and helped MoCo remain a stable, nurturing presence for the kids and families we serve,” said Executive Director and Artistic Director of Dance Reagan Messer. “MoCo rapidly implemented the equipment needed to livestream year-round arts education classes. Later, that investment provided accessibility and opportunity for children who couldn’t take class in-person when we returned to MoCo’s studios. We have since expanded that investment into our black box theatre so families can livestream performances no matter where they live or what challenges they may face.”

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Rep. Kuster was a fierce advocate for Granite State businesses and communities, working with her colleagues to secure essential support like the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program, Restaurant Revitalization Fund, and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). These efforts helped keep the economy moving and businesses operating during the worst of the pandemic.

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