Land & Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) receive $12 million in Governor Lynch’s new budget for the biennium. LCHIP is an independent state authority that makes matching grants to NH communities and non-profits to conserve and preserve NH’s most important natural, cultural and historic resources. Eighty-Five (85%) of residence in NH believing that government funds should be used for land conservation and historical building preservation. Through the investment program for every $1 in resources is leveraged more than five times with money from local, private and federal sources. The biggest difference this year is that the NH House has approved a funding source for LCHIP. An increase in the real estate transfer tax of about 4% will be dedicated to provide funding and is currently awaiting the NH Senates approval. This increase in the transfer tax is important because LCHIP has been a budgeted item before and is one of the first items to be cut when money is needed elsewhere. The last biennium LCHIP was budgeted at $10 million but only received $750,000. In order for this program to be effective long range funding has to be available.