$25G grant will help COAST complete new maintenance garage

The project will be funded through federal, state (including NH CDFA tax credits), local, and private sources. (Courtesy photo)

Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation, more commonly known as COAST, was recently awarded a $25,000 grant from the Cogswell Benevolent Trust. The grant funds will help support the final design and construction of the nonprofit's new administration, operations, and maintenance facility in Dover.

For more than 40 years, COAST has connected people and communities in the Greater Seacoast region. In the last 15 years, in particular, COAST has experienced its most significant growth. To better meet its current operational needs, be responsive to future demand, and reduce its environmental impact, COAST plans to build a new facility on its current property in Dover.

The project will be funded through federal, state (including NH CDFA tax credits), local, and private sources. The recent award from the Cogswell Benevolent Trust brings the total funds raised to 82% of the $17.3M projected cost.

"A new, efficiently designed facility will be transformational for COAST and for the workforce, students, seniors, individuals living with disabilities, and lower-income families that we serve," said Rad Nichols, Executive Director of COAST. "We are so grateful to the Cogswell Benevolent Trust for investing in the regional economy and climate action. The new facility will help ensure that COAST will be a reliable and environmentally responsible resource for the people of the Greater Seacoast for the next 40 years and beyond."

The City of Dover recently issued a site plan approval and conditional use permit for the project following a review by the Planning Board. At 17,500 square feet, the new operations, maintenance, and administration building is 6,000 square feet larger than COAST's existing and leased space combined. The maintenance area is designed with two additional bays (5 total) to support the current and growing fleet.

The new administration area contains space to hold larger meetings, for driver training, as well as sufficient room for dispatchers and supervisors to oversee operations. It will also house the TripLink regional call center. An additional 28,000-square-foot building would allow COAST to store its fleet out of the weather.