Black Heritage Trail gets donation from MVSB

CONCORD — Meredith Village Savings Bank purchased $5,000 in tax credits through the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority to support of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire. The funds will support the organization’s goal to raise awareness of New Hampshire’s Black history and build a more inclusive community. The $5,000 is additional to the $25,000 tax credit purchase MVSB made in 2019.

The bank’s support has contributed to BHTNH’s ability to provide safe spaces for dialogue around diversity and race, and they have been able to successfully to pivot programming to accommodate today’s health environment. Recent developments include:

• Collaboration with Portsmouth Middle School to provide a remote classroom discussion of the film 'Shadows Fall North.' The program has also been made available to students across the state.
• Making their Juneteenth Celebration a virtual event.
• Through partnership with Southern New Hampshire University, presenting the annual Black New England Conference online to national and international audiences.
• Development of three guided tours, led virtually, to tell the stories of Ona Judge Story of Greenland, Jack Stains of Portsmouth and Harriet Wilson of Milford.
• Creation of a visible history program called “On the Trail With...” which assists high school students in the production of short videos highlighting a black history site in their hometown.

New Hampshire has been home to Africans and African-Americans for more than 350 years, and the Black Heritage Trail was founded from the examination and study of their stories. The state has an African heritage dating back to the arrival of Europeans. Much of that history centers on the port in Portsmouth, where as many as 700 Black people were brought to New Hampshire by way of the American Revolution, while others were part of a little-known free society.

“Now, more than ever, our work at the trail is needed. Education plays an essential role in our understanding of the past, where we are now and what the future could be. By creating a safe space for dialogue, we believe it’s possible to decrease barriers of misunderstanding and decrease racial anxiety,” said JerriAnne Boggis, executive director.

“MVSB is happy to do as much as we can to support the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire,” said Rick Wyman, president of MVSB. “They ensure everyone has the opportunity to learn about the full history of the people of New Hampshire."

The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire still has tax credits available for sale. 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. Any business with operations in New Hampshire that contributes to a CDFA tax credit project receives a state tax credit worth 75 percent of their contribution. The credit can be used over a period of five years to reduce the business’ state tax liability. The tax credit program allows businesses to use their state tax dollars to support local projects. 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. 

For more information about the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, visit blackheritagetrailnh.org.

For more information about Meredith Village Savings Bank, visit a local branch office in Alton, Ashland, Center Harbor, Gilford, Laconia, Meredith, Moultonborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth or Wolfeboro, call 800-922-6872 or visit mvsb.com.