Burley-Farms, SELT Courtesy Photo
Meredith Village Savings Bank (MVSB) has purchased $10,000 in tax credits through the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) in support of the Southeast Land Trust of NH (SELT). These funds will support the construction of the new Mathey Center for People and Nature and the renovation of the John P. Chase Farmhouse. Both will be located at the 240-acre Burley Farms in Epping, providing significant benefit to the local region through their working farm, community meeting space, recreational trails and two workforce housing units. SELT will also move operations to this site, which lies at the center of their 52-town service area.
“We’re very thankful to our community partners, including Meredith Village Savings Bank,” said Beverly Shadley, Deputy Director, Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire. “The project will be extraordinarily beneficial to our region for a long time to come as we transform Burley Farms into a hub of community-based conservation, recreation and education.”
“MVSB is happy to do as much as we can to support the efforts of SELT to fulfill their vision for the Center for People and Nature at Burley Farms,” noted Jim Carrigan, Assistant Vice President and Branch and Business Development Manager of MVSB’s Portsmouth office. “Our customers and community in the Seacoast are excited about supporting our natural resources, and SELT’s goal to conserve land for people and nature serves that important need. MVSB is committed to delivering enduring community leadership and support through trustworthy corporate citizenship, and responsible individual and company actions. In addition, we support organizations that help make our communities better places to live for all of us, and SELT is certainly doing that.”
Local Businesses who wish to support the Southeast Land Trust of NH are encouraged to so. SELT still has tax credits available for sale. Contact Beverly Shadley at bshadley@seltnh.org or 603.658.9752 to learn more. CDFA tax credits allow businesses to fund qualifying economic or community development projects in exchange for a tax credit that can be applied against state business tax payments. The tax credits are administered by the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA). Any business with operations in NH that contributes to a CDFA tax credit project receives a NH state tax credit worth 75% of their contribution. The credit can be used over a period of five years to reduce the business’ state tax liability (business profits, business enterprise or insurance premium taxes). The tax credit program allows NH businesses to use their state tax dollars to support local projects that they care about. CDFA reviews many project applications each year and awards tax credits to those they determine are feasible and will make the biggest impact on economic development in the state. For more information, visit nhcdfa.org.
The Southeast Land Trust (SELT) conserves and stewards land for the benefit of people and nature in New Hampshire. SELT serves 52 towns and cities of Rockingham and Strafford counties and has conserved tens of thousands of acres since 1980, including nature preserves, hiking trails, farmland and scenic vistas. SELT relies on its annual contributing members, committed Board of Directors, and talented staff and volunteers to keep advancing critical conservation initiatives in their region. To find out more about the organization and ways you can support them, visit seltnh.org.
