1. (a) Other activities that create or incentivize the development of workforce housing and other housing necessary to the economic development of the state shall not be required for a municipality to receive HC designation. The points awarded under this section shall count towards the total HC designation score.
2. (b) Applicants shall receive up to 10 points for implementing activities outlined in Bea 504.10(c), with each qualifying activity valued at 5 points each.

3. (c) The department shall review each application, and award points, for the following activities:

   1. (1) Establishment of a housing commission as defined in RSA 674:44-h or appointing members to the housing commission pursuant to RSA 673:4-c; with regular meetings;

   2. (2) Interconnected community water systems primarily for residential use which include the following:

      1. a. Cooperation of the HC designation applicant with an adjacent municipality on the interconnection of community water systems primarily for residential use which may be demonstrated by a legally binding agreement;
      2. b. Construction of interconnection between systems completed no more than 6 years prior to the municipality’s HC designation application; or
      3. c. A fully funded project to interconnect water systems which shall be completed no more than 365 days after the municipality’s HC designation application;
   3. (3) Establishment of a joint municipal development and revitalization district with an adjacent municipality pursuant to RSA 162-K and implementation of a development program pursuant to RSA 162-K:6;
   4. (4) Establishment of a joint agreement with an adjacent municipality pursuant to RSA 53-A for the provision of shared infrastructure or services which supports the development of workforce housing;
   5. (5) Receipt of an InvestNH housing opportunity planning grant or a NH HC designation housing and planning regulation municipal grant;
   6. (6) Construction of units of workforce housing that resulted in a minimum 5 percent increase in its total number of housing units above the total number of housing units reported by the U.S. Census Bureau in the most recent decennial census during the preceding 3 years;
   7. (7) Provide a narrative that supports a municipality’s request for inclusion of activities which create or incentivize workforce housing and other housing necessary to the economic development of the state.

4. (d) In addition to other bonus points made available to smaller communities in other qualifying categories, municipalities with populations of 10,000 or fewer people, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau decennial census, who have completed or are in the process of completing eligible planning and regulatory reform within the housing planning and regulation municipal (HPRM) grant program, the InvestNH-funded housing opportunity planning (HOP), or municipal planning and zoning grant program shall receive the following bonus points:

   1. (1) Ten points toward their initial HC designation application; or
   2. (2) Five points for each additional phase of planning or regulation reform completed or underway during the 3 years preceding the municipality’s HC designation renewal application with a maximum of 10 points.
5. (e) The department shall make additional bonus points available based on department priorities and best practices which shall be publicized prior to the commencement of each application round.

Source. #14043, eff 8-8-24