Lancaster, N.H. — Today, Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02) met with local leaders and businesses to tour the renovation progress of the Parker J. Noyes building in downtown Lancaster. Thanks to federal resources secured by Rep. Kuster and local advocacy, the historic building is being repurposed to house residents and offers a new retail space which will be filled by the Taproot Farm & Environmental Education Center.

“New Hampshire is a wonderful place to live and raise a family, and revitalization projects like the one to renovate the Parker J. Noyes building in downtown Lancaster are helping to bring more people to our state,” said Rep. Kuster. “From creating new apartments to building more community space, the Noyes building will become the new staple of Lancaster. I’m thrilled to see the progress of this project and will continue working to support it and ones like it for the benefit of our communities and our economy.”

“This project exemplifies how a community can co-locate vital services, bring value to a rural economy and address challenges like food security at the same time,” said Sarah Waring, State Director of USDA Rural Development in New Hampshire. “Congresswoman Kuster and organizations like the Northern Forest Center and Taproot Farm and Environmental Education Center play critical roles in our ability to direct funding where it makes the most difference and the biggest impacts. Communities need organizations to combine their efforts, bringing healthy local food and viable economic and community development to those who need it the most.”

“The Center has been working with local partners over the past several years on projects that retain and attract young and entrepreneurial people,” said Rob Riley, President of the Northern Forest Center. “To address the lack of quality rental apartments, in late 2018 we acquired the Parker J Noyes building, and brought in state and federal tax credits, federal and private grants, and impact investments, to turn an empty and deteriorating – but historic and highly visible – building into a showcase property with six apartments and the new home of the Root Seller Marketplace. In April this building will be occupied and add to the vitality of this great town.”

"We are thrilled to be part of bringing the Parker J. Noyes building back to life and eagerly await the day when we can finally move in,” said Melissa A. Grella, PhD, Founder and Executive Director of Taproots NH. “Our expansion into the new space will allow us to grow our Environmental Education programming, our Food Access programming, and our local food Marketplace. The Marketplace plays an integral role not only in our organization, but it also acts as an important link in the regional food system by connecting consumers to 150+ local/regional farmers, producers, crafters, brewers, and vendors year-round, and acts as a nexus of economic development and revitalization of the area."

Rep. Kuster has been a strong supporter of the renovation project to transform Parker J. Noyes building into six quality apartments and expanded program and retail space for Lancaster’s Root Seller Marketplace. The redevelopment project is central to the growing pride and opportunity people see in Lancaster’s future. The Center has secured significant financing for this $3.2 million project, including a mix of tax credits, public and foundation grants, charitable gifts, and impact investments. As a Member of the House Agriculture Committee, Rep. Kuster has consistently supported robust funding for USDA-RD through the passage of previous Farm Bills and annual appropriations legislation. 

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