The Bow Mills area will be the focus of a new feasibility study to examine whether extending Bow’s municipal waterline from its wells to the area could spur future development and drive economic growth.

The project will be supported by $52,265 in federal grants from the Northern Border Regional Commission’s (NBRC) Catalyst Program and Timber for Transit Program, which only this year expanded eligibility to include projects in Merrimack County.

Kari Makinen, Bow’s community development director, said the study will help plan for the 175 acres of undeveloped land known as Bow Mills, and fund a consultant to assess the costs and benefits of various development options.

“We saw this opportunity and looked for a project that would align well with the goals of Northern Borders and we selected this project,” said Makinen. “It’s a feasibility study, not a construction project or infrastructure project. This kind of steps back and creates a vision and looks at what the potential of the area might be.”

Bow’s project is one of the 15 across New Hampshire chosen to receive a portion of $7 million in federal funds dedicated to strengthening infrastructure and supporting long-term regional development.

Currently, Bow is seeking assistance from Concord to supply between 25,000 and 60,000 gallons of clean water per day to the Bow Junction area. This study would look at drawing water from town wells.

Tom O’Donovan, a member of Bow’s Drinking Water Protection Committee, said that if Concord continues to deny the request — as it has for years — the feasibility study will help the town explore what it would take to access water on its own.

Bow Junction is affected by groundwater contamination from Methyl tertiary-butyl Ether (MtBE), a gasoline additive often linked to leaking underground fuel tanks.

Boscawen also received $39,000 in federal funding for a feasibility project to develop an engineered site plan for a 50-foot by 30-foot timber-framed outdoor picnic pavilion at the Town Park on Depot Street.

The proposed project also includes a Merrimack River overlook, new restroom facilities, a major redesign and reconstruction of the park access road, additional parking, and full ADA accessibility for both existing and new facilities.

Newport, Littleton, Groton, Plymouth, Sunapee, Franklin Pierce University, the New Hampshire Boat Museum, Franconia Children’s Center, HealthFirst Family Care Center, and Coös County Family Health Center also received funding for their projects.

“The Northern Border Regional Commission is a critical partner in our efforts to ensure New Hampshire’s rural communities get their fair share of federal resources,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen in a press release.“I’m glad to see more federal funding heading to projects that will help local economies thrive, support health care facilities, upgrade critical infrastructure, increase access to affordable child care and more.”