BRISTOL — Pemi-Valley Habitat for Humanity is planning to break ground on a four-home cluster development on Route 3A which will be named in memory of a beloved local pastor.

This is considered the most ambitious Habitat project ever to be undertaken in the region and fundraising efforts are underway.

The groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled to take place at noon, Aug. 25 at Hedstrom Way, the name of the new project and road. The road, as well as the homeowners association, is named in memory of the Reverend Douglas Hedstrom. He was the pastor of the Bristol United Church of Christ and a dedicated Habitat supporter and volunteer.

Hedstrom died in 2010 while construction of the Mastin home in Rumney was nearing completion. Hedstrom was a regular volunteer at the site.

Members of the Hedstrom family will be in attendance Aug. 25 to help formally break ground for the project.

Several years ago, the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority purchased this parcel of land from the state Department of Transportation.

The plan was to sell the land to Pemi-Valley Habitat for the construction of Habitat homes. However, studies showed that infrastructure costs for wells, septic, road and drainage would exceed $200,000.

In an attempt to move the project forward, Pemi-Valley Habitat applied for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and became the first Habitat for Humanity affiliate to have a project receive such funding.

The Community Development Finance Authority cited the past success of Pemi-Valley Habitat and its stability over the years as major reasons the project was supported.

“We are very pleased and excited to receive this grant and to have the opportunity to build in the town of Bristol for the very first time,” said Pemi-Valley Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Brian McCarthy. “It is very rewarding to be the first Habitat affiliate to have a project get funded and this is a testament to everyone, past and present, who helped make Pemi-Valley Habitat such a successful organization.”

Now, the organization needs to raise the money to construct the four homes, its match for the CDBG grant.

“We are again asking the community for its support,” said McCarthy. “We have been presented with a tremendous opportunity to help four deserving families realize the dream of home ownership. We now, more than ever, are counting on the generosity of the community to help us raise the necessary funds to build these homes as quickly as possible. We will also be looking for as many volunteers as possible to help us build these homes.”

Work has already begun on the site, with Clarke and Company of Wilmot awarded the contract for the site work.

Four families have already been selected to receive the homes.

Pemi-Valley Habitat for Humanity has built 26 homes in the Plymouth area.

The 26th home was completed in February.

To get to the Bristol site, take Exit 23 off I-93. Stay on Route 104 until you reach the center of town and Central Square. Take a left and go up Route 3A toward Hill. The Hedstrom Way Subdivision is about a quarter of a mile up the road on the right.

The public is invited to attend the groundbreaking ceremony.

ptracy@unionleader.com