What's New

Victory for Land and Community Heritage! With only six days left in the 2007 legislative session, the New Hampshire House and Senate budget negotiators reached an agreement to restore funding to preserve New Hampshire, with the popular Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP).

As part of the state's biennial budget, lawmakers agreed to fund LCHIP at $12 million - a level not seen since 2001. The LCHIP program traditionally receives appropriations from the legislature that go directly to projects to conserve the state's natural and historic resources. Under the 2007 agreement, LCHIP will receive $6 million from the state’s general fund in the first year of the biennium. In the second year of the budget, the program will be funded through a dedicated $25 fee on documents recorded at the ten county deed registries. The funding covers an average of 20 percent of the project cost, with communities raising the additional funds from other sources to match it.

Brief Summary

Established in 2000 to protect our most valuable open space, farmlands, forests and historic buildings, the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program was highly successful in the years it was fully funded. In fact, between 2000 and 2003, LCHIP helped to protect more than 200,000 acres and 80 historical structures. LCHIP helps cities and towns protect natural resources and historic buildings through a matching grant program.

Despite LCHIP's overwhelming popularity and track record of success, the Legislature eliminated nearly all of the program's funding in 2003, and LCHIP has been sorely under-funded since then. Environment New Hampshire is working to make sure this critical program receives full and permanent funding.