NEWPORT/SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE – What’s unique about Sullivan County, New Hampshire? A community-based, county-wide initiative, facilitated by UNH Cooperative Extension, has launched a web-based mapping app that asks county residents to share their favorite places.Community members, leaders and partners have been meeting since October 2017 to participate in a Regional Economic Profile program, facilitated by UNH Cooperative Extension, which aims to help the region clarify its strengths, challenges and avenues to enable economic development. The Regional Identity Task Force that has formed as part of this work determined that the county’s identity could use a boost. €œThe LoveSullivan project is about community building as well as growing pride by focusing on the good things we have in our region as opposed to what we lack or wish we had,€ said County Manager Derek Ferland. €œWe’re not the North Country, we’re not the Lakes Region, we’re not the Seacoast. Who are we? We decided the best way to find out is to ask the people who live here.€
The LoveSullivan Project is an ArcGIS web-based mapping app that makes it easy to identify a favorite place, upload a photo of it, and share what makes it special. Participants simply use their smartphone or camera to take a photo and navigate to bit.ly/LoveSullivan (a case-sensitive url) to upload the photo and share why the place is meaningful to them. Historical buildings or sites, trails, parks, local organizations, restaurants and businesses are all great choices to share. Penny Whitman, Community & Economic Development Field Specialist for UNH Cooperative Extension, Sullivan County, built the mapping app with support from ArcGIS experts at UNH. €œThe LoveSullivan Project is a way to realize our tremendous assets and opportunities as we explore what makes us distinct,€ she said. €œOnce we know what our strengths are, we can then leverage those distinctions to develop a strong identity that inspires locals as well as visitors, new residents, developers and businesses.€
Charlie French, who leads UNH Cooperative Extension’s Community & Economic Development program, noted that an assets-based approach to community and economic development builds social capital, i.e., community cohesiveness, which can catalyze possibility thinking and excitement and attract positive attention. €œThe LoveSullivan Project is a grassroots way to gather important data about regional strengths and set the table for economic development,€ he said.
The project will collect site photos and information for the next several months. As the map fills, the Regional Identity Task Force will explore next steps to expand the project’s impact. The task force’s next meeting will be held May 22, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the Sugar River Valley Technical Center in the Lou Thompson Room. Community members who would like to contribute to the project are encouraged to attend.
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About UNH Cooperative Extension: In partnership with all 10 NH counties, UNH Cooperative
Extension provides communities with expertise and assistance in the areas of community
development, food and agriculture, natural resources, and youth and family development. Visit
https://extension.unh.edu/ to learn more.
