economic development

In addition to contributing financially, small businesses often help define the identity and economic health of a city or town.

If you think the best way to lose weight, get fit, and improve your diet is to join a gym or hire a personal trainer, you're not alone. But you're not right, said Mary Collins, author of American Idle: A Journey Through Our Sedentary Culture, the keynote speaker on November 14 at the New Hampshire Local Government Center's 71^st annual conference, held in Manchester.

How can you explain workforce housing to people without losing them halfway through?" asked Anne Duncan Cooley, executive director of the Upper Valley Housing Coalition. Anne has worked for years as a housing advocate and developed many successful education and outreach programs for a broad range of audiences. She is also on the Orford's selectboard and encounters another set of challenges when she is working on municipal matters. "We have to be experts in everything, understand many issues, and clearly communicate the concepts to the public.

In New Hampshire, every town receives technical support for making decisions about land use from one of nine Regional Planning Commissions (RPCs). The RPCs were formed by the Legislature to aid and advise municipalities and prepare a coordinated plan for the development of the region. The planning support is used by municipalities for local decisions and to address the many issues that cross municipal borders. With a new three-year, $3.37 million grant from the U.S.

In 1969 the State of New Hampshire demonstrated support for local control by enabling municipalities to create regional planning commissions. Prior to then, a number of nonprofit organizations such as the Upper Valley Development Council, Inc. (1963) and Nashua Commission (1959) began forming around the state to meet the growing need to plan for development across municipal borders.

While much of the water infrastructure is "out of sight," it can't be "out of mind," as New Hampshire's environment and economy depend too much on it.

New Hampshire residents are dependent on an array of infrastructure that moves, stores and treats water. To make this happen, cities and towns own and operate a lot of water infrastructure in New Hampshire. These municipal systems provide public drinking water, centralized wastewater, storm water and dam infrastructure.

Claire Knowles became homeless after her husband died in a car crash in 2009. With nowhere to go for a hot meal, she relied on the Friendly Kitchen in Concord.

“It was hard carrying everything you owned in a suitcase or backpack,” says Knowles. “It was very important to know that that kitchen was there.”

But when the Friendly Kitchen was destroyed by fire in April 2011, the area’s low- and moderate-income residents faced the prospect of going hungry. Raising the money to rebuild the nonprofit facility seemed a monumental task.

By Steve Norton

The last few years have brought unprecedented forces of change to New Hampshire. The Great Recession changed the economic landscape, communities and the state budget process. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act sent millions of dollars to state and local communities, money which will no longer be available to support state and local activities. And political tides have changed, as well, adding momentum to trends that began as a result of the recession, including changes in state spending.

The Capital Regional Development Council, known as CRDC, is a statewide nonprofit economic development corporation with more than 50 years of success offering a variety of economic development and business financing services. CRDC is a collaborative organization that partners with a variety of communities, agencies and businesses to facilitate job-creating and tax-base-improving projects.

Cities and towns throughout New Hampshire are becoming increasingly mindful of the importance of preserving their historic character. Inspiring stories abound, such as the remarkable rescue of the Colonel Paul Wentworth House, circa 1701. Originally built in what is now Rollinsford, in 1936 the house was moved to Dover, Massachusetts. When new owners wanted to demolish the house in 2001, they donated the house to the Town of Rollinsford. Local citizens raised funds and moved the house—board by board—back to Rollinsford, to within yards of its original location.