North Country

1
North Country Resource Conservation and
Development Area Council 5 Year Strategic Area
Plan Update
The North Country Resource Conservation and
Development Area Council (NCRCD) has conducted a
survey to identify the roles, issues, needs and
services that North Country residents believe
NCRCD should concentrate on and provide in it's
role as a USDA designated RCD Area serving Coos,
Grafton, Carroll and Belknap Counties through its
new five year strategic Area Plan.
2
Respondent Profile

• Approximately 144 people participated in our
  survey.
• The results include the responses of
  approximately 85 people who participated in a
  hot dot exercise at the 2009 Annual Meeting in
  February and 59 who completed the survey on our
  website.
• Of the 59 people who completed the on-line
  survey
• 8 had not previously heard of NCRCD
• 28 reside or have interest in Coos County
• 27 in Grafton County
• 17 in Belknap County and
• 13 in Carroll County
• 20 are local elected officials
• 8 are county elected officials
• 4 are state elected officials and
• 4 are federal elected officials
• 17 are local commissioner/board volunteers

3
North Country Resource Conservation and
Development Area Council 5 Year Strategic Area
Plan Update
Rank Our Guiding Visions Rank the vision
statement or statements you feel is/are most
important for the "north country.

• The north country is a working landscape of
  successful farms and actively managed and
  productive forest land.
• 156

2. North country communities are capable of
providing necessary services and preserving their
rural character. 120

3. Raw agricultural and forest products are
processed to their maximum value added potential
in north country facilities. 105
4. North country soil, water, and related
resources are conserved using sustainable
practices. 95
4
North Country Resource Conservation and
Development Area Council 5 Year Strategic Area
Plan Update
What Do You Feel are the Most Important Issues to
be Addressed in NCRCD's Next Area Plan?
5
North Country Resource Conservation and
Development Area Council 5 Year Strategic Area
Plan Update
Under-utilized Resources or Technologies with
Potential for Further Development (rank the
resources or technologies you believe should be
pursued)
6
North Country Resource Conservation and
Development Area Council 5 Year Strategic Area
Plan Update
SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses,
Opportunities, Threats) (choose the strength,
weakness, opportunity or threat that is/are most
critical to the "north country")
7
North Country Resource Conservation and
Development Area Council 5 Year Strategic Area
Plan Update
Services Lacking or Needing Expansion (choose one
or more of the service or services that you feel
are most lacking and needed by "north country
communities or organizations)
8
The following are the written responses from
individual respondents to the online survey in
answer to question 4 What are the top 3
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
facing the 4 counties in the North Country
these comments have been incorporated in the
above tallies

• Weaknesses
• Population loss
• Loss of young people
• Inadequate infrastructure
• Low educational attainment of residents
• Lack of post-secondary educational opportunities
• Lack of employment opportunities and employment
  diversity
• Lack of high speed internet
• Remoteness from major markets/No intermodal
  facility
• Lack of Transportation
• Energy dependence
• Funding for multi-year projects limited by NH
  state law

• Threats
• Atmospheric pollution/Global warming
• Economic instability
• Unrestricted commercial and residential
  development
• Loss of timber industry
• Broad Brush state and federal Regulations
• Shortsightedness/Lack of long-term planning
• Old boy network/Lack of consensus/Town
  governments unwilling to change/Naysayers
• Lack of energy vision
• Newcomers wanting improvements such as pavement
  and night lighting
• Aging population
• Some people have given up

9

• Strengths
• Sense of community
• Sense of place
• Yankee independence
• Self reliance
• Strong work ethic
• Ready, willing and able work force
• Rural character
• Abundant natural resources
• Forest base
• Quality of life
• Existing agencies like NRDC and UNH Cooperative
  Extension

• Opportunities
• Going green/renewable energy sources
• Consuming locally
• Low land prices
• Available land
• Grants and initiatives
• Forestry
• Tourism
• Biological diversity
• Recreational opportunities

10
Specific Projects Online Respondents Would Like
to See Happen these comments have been
incorporated in the above tallies

• Develop ag products other than dairy, i.e. fruit,
  beef, hay
• Land protection for low income landowners
• Increase educational opportunities
• Create green incentives
• Small scale home or community-based renewable
  energy projects
• Wind farms
• Solar energy
• Biomass
• Home and business weatherization and energy
  upgrades utilizing local workforce
• Legislative safeguard for our natural resources
  to balance resource protection and development
• Natural resources inventory
• Make use of forest products and small farm
  products
• Lead with innovation
• Regionalization
• High speed internet
• Support local businesses
• Expand public transportation
• Utilize vacant buildings and factories