Press Releases/What’s New

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Arts and Culture Commission Reports on First Year’s Advocacy and Accomplishments

May 5, 2025

The US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported recently that arts and cultural enterprises contribute $1 trillion to the national economy and, in New Hampshire, arts and culture make up 3.1 percent of the State’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Since coming through the pandemic, Portsmouth has turned a spotlight on ways to protect, preserve, and foster the arts.

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Individual Last Seen on Sarah Mildred Long Bridge

May 2, 2025

On April 30th at approximately 10 P.M. the Portsmouth Police Department took a report of a missing person.  An investigation into the individual’s whereabouts started at that time. On May 1st at approximately 10 A.M. the Police Department was notified by the Department of Transportation that video surveillance showed an individual matching the description of the missing person jumping off the Sarah Long Bridge on April 30th at approximately 8:49 P.M.  A search of the Piscataqua river began immediately after discovering this video.  

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City Manager Presents the Fiscal Year 2026 Proposed Budget

May 2, 2025

The Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Proposed Budget for all appropriated City funds was distributed to the City Council on April 28, 2025. This budget document and accompanying interactive user guide are posted to the City website.

The release of the FY26 Proposed Budget marks the start of presentations to the City Council and the public. The City offers multiple opportunities for the public to comment on the budget, including:

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City Joins NH Firefighters Association in Honoring Fallen Firefighters

May 1, 2025

Portsmouth Fire Chief William McQuillen has enlisted the City’s help in the "Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters" program. The Memorial Bridge is illuminated with red lights during the week of April 27 - May 4, 2025 to honor the fallen and their families. Local firefighter Charles A. Gallant, a firefighter from the Rye Fire Department, was added to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Roll of Honor this year.

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City Establishes Below Market Rate Housing Trust Fund to Receive and Distribute Funds to Create and Retain Housing

April 22, 2025

The Portsmouth NH City Council has voted to accept the recommendations of the Housing Blue Ribbon Committee and the City Trustees of Trust Funds to establish a Below Market Rate Housing Trust Fund. The Trust will support the City Council’s goal to enhance the supply of housing choices, specifically the supply of below market rate housing options and will be overseen by the Trustees of the Trust Funds.

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City Helps Launch Community Resource Network Website and Directory

April 21, 2025

Following the pandemic, the City of Portsmouth NH created the COVID Recovery Task Force (CRTF) to work with the City Health Department to address the needs identified by local health and human service agencies among vulnerable populations most impacted by COVID-19. One of the recommendations of the CRTF was that the Community Resource Network (CRN) directory of service agencies be converted from paper to a user-friendly, online resource searchable by service need.