FRANKLIN, NH — Affordable housing, continuum of care, retreat center, and therapeutic recreation are the centerpieces of an unprecedented effort to serve those who have dedicated their own lives to service. Joined by veterans, military members, families, Governor Chris Sununu, PROCON’s design-build team, and dignitaries from around the state, Easterseals NH broke ground for its new Center of Excellence, designed to offer a variety of support services in one location. The Military & Veterans Campus in Franklin, New Hampshire, will be operational in just over one year, and planning is underway to move into a second phase designed to expand the list of available supports and programs for veterans and their families.

During a special dedication, Sununu praised the state’s lawmakers for supporting this investment. Easterseals NH was awarded $23 million from the State of New Hampshire through the American Rescue Plan Act State Fiscal Recovery Funds to develop the campus and its programs.

PROCON, an integrated architecture and construction management firm, has announced its partnership with Easterseals NH to design and build the Military and Veterans Campus. This project will provide comprehensive services and support for military personnel, veterans, and their families, with a design conceptualized by veterans themselves.

“Our family has long supported veterans and military in our community,” said John Stebbins, PROCON CEO. “We have hired many team members who have served and continue to serve our country. We are honored to partner with Easterseals NH to design and build Easterseals NH Military and Veterans Campus in Franklin. Our entire team and veterans are excited to be able to give back to other veterans and the military by designing the best possible facility to support their needs.”

Additional funds will be raised to complete the retreat center, build the multipurpose therapeutic recreation building, military-themed playground, makerspace, and outdoor performance stage. Easterseals NH will complete the project by collaborating with stakeholders, partners, the State of New Hampshire, and the public. This has included seeking feedback from the community process, such as creating a Campus Taskforce; attending local and regional site visits of military and veteran programs; conducting interviews and outreach with state officials, nonprofits, and other providers; creating, distributing, and analyzing surveys sent to providers and members of the military and veteran community; and more. This has been a community-wide conversation, and the input is feeding the final plans for the campus.

The first phase of the project, construction of the affordable housing for veterans, hub of services for veteran service providers, and portions of the retreat center, recently began. The completion of the first phase of the project will be in early 2025.

“New Hampshire has one of the highest per capita populations of veterans in the country, so we know the need for access to programs and housing is high,” said Andy MacWilliam, Chair of the Board of Directors for Easterseals NH. “We are confident with the support of our statewide community, the nonprofit sector, private businesses, and citizens that we can raise the remaining funds needed to fully complete this incredible campus. The Easterseals NH Military & Veterans Campus will change lives, support families, and offer a much-deserved way of saying thank you to all who have served or are serving in the military today.”