Demand rises for staffing services
As New Hampshire employers adapt their processes to “the new normal” — working remotely, placing in-house workers and machinery six feet apart, implementing temperature checks and sanitization stations and doling out PPE — they’re also looking ahead to their goals for 2021.

School-funding panel puts forward its report
The commission — the third to tackle the issue since the 1990s, when the New Hampshire Supreme Court struck down the system — has undertaken the most expansive and intensive review of school funding to date..

Balsams developer seeks new investors
According to the Berlin Sun, Les Otten of Dixville Capital LLC told the board the pandemic has forced the firm to shift attention away from traditional resort and hospitality investors.

New Hampshire bankruptcies hit record low for third month in a row
Some 60 individuals — no businesses — filed for bankruptcy in November, the lowest number of any month in a generation, save for the three months following a change in the bankruptcy law in 2005 that made it much harder to file.

BIA renews push for ‘safe harbor’ legislation
The BIA is seeking protection for any business that followed “applicable government standards and guidance related to coronavirus exposure,” such as instituting the state mask mandate and following socially distancing guidelines.

NH BUSINESS REVIEW
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Effort seeks to boost visibility of minority- and women-owned businesses
Citizens has donated $10,000 toward the creation and enhancement of a list that so far features more than 80 minority-owned businesses and organizations in a Google Doc spreadsheet, allowing the public to make additions.

LaBelle Winery owners purchase Brookstone event center
The couple said the Brookstone property, to be renamed LaBelle Winery Derry, will undergo significant renovations beginning in December 2020 with the intention of creating a “champagne house,” a marketplace, a wedding and event center, and a restaurant.

CONCORD
CONCORD: The Department of Revenue Administration has reported that receipts from both the business profits tax and the business enterprise tax totaled $32.5 million in November — above estimates by $22.1 million,...

TAKE5
Only 12% said they were shopping online because of health or safety issues involving Covid-19, instead citing convenience, best prices and free shipping..

Chambers of commerce collaborate amid Covid
One positive thing coming out of the pandemic has been more regional collaboration among New Hampshire’s chambers of commerce, a change that might outlive the coronavirus, according to the heads of seven chambers who spoke last week with the Economic Reopening Task Force.

UNH joins cybersecurity manufacturing project
The university recently joined the Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CyManII), which is led by the University of Texas at San Antonio and includes a five-year agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy.

THE BOTTOM LINE
“These investments will strengthen our global manufacturing footprint, allowing us to meet this unprecedented demand and help get lifesaving vaccines and therapies to more patients, faster,” said Chris Ross, interim CEO of MilliporeSigma, in a press release.

ABOUT TOWN
1. Courtney Whitten, RN and Tom Ellefsen, RN, ADN of Cornerstone VNA displayed their gratitude to other healthcare workers in November in recognition and celebration of National Home Care, Hospice and Palliative Care Month.

Connectivity and business growth
The Covid-19 pandemic has affected communities around the world. Whether through unemployment, changes to the business landscape or the evolving needs of people everywhere, people and communities have felt — and will continue to feel — the effects of the pandemic.

For better and worse
Michael Benton, owner of a Londonderry-based network of health, wellness and fitness facilities, sees many people who had been exercising outside or working out remotely starting to trickle back in despite the second wave of Covid. After all, he reasoned, a vaccine is on its way.

Biden’s lessons in achievement
There are some aspects of Biden’s professional life that led to his ultimate achievement of winning the U.S. presidency, which points out characteristics many of us can learn as we navigate and grow our own careers. Like any person, he faced substantial challenges establishing himself professionally.

NH remains a laggard in EV charging
The New Hampshire Office of Strategic Initiatives, which is overseeing installation of electric vehicle charging stations around the state, says it hasn’t made much progress.

Random thoughts on a crazy year
Pandemic, politics, division and contention have combined to get on everyone’s nerves, even if they have survived healthy. The next year promises to be better,...

Another Covid headache: supply chain disruption
“Things have just been crazy,” said Jason Grevior, the third generation of his family to run the business. The craziness he’s referring to is an effect of the coronavirus pandemic. Demand has been strong, he said. It’s getting something to offer the customers that’s the problem.

Child care’s long-standing strains brought to light in Covid
“It definitely made it a lot easier,” she said, noting that the center is now providing care for 42 children. “And it allows me as the director to put my attention on other critical issues instead of worrying about funding — to be able to focus on families and staff.

A sweet pandemic shift for Keene candy retailer
Tracy Gunn is no stranger to difficulties in business. She started her candy store — Life Is Sweet — in downtown Keene 14 years ago. But for the past four years business has steadily declined,...

Sununu’s state of emergency has become a lie
RebuildNH didn’t exist when this was happening, because we believed like everyone else that the precautionary approach seemed reasonable for the initial 21-day state of emergency period specified by state law.

Energy-efficiency programs are good for NH businesses, consumers
For New Hampshire consumers and businesses, the benefits of reducing energy waste is just common sense.

A disheartening beginning to a new session
We would not gather at the stately Hall of Representatives; rather, the event would be on the field hockey field at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, so that we could all be socially distanced and remain within the CDC’s guidelines for safety.

The new year brings the same Covid liability threat
We’re quickly approaching the beginning of a new year, yet one of the biggest challenges of 2020 persists. A resurgent Covid-19 virus has infection rates, hospitalizations and deaths rising in New Hampshire and across the country.

What can employers expect from a Biden administration?
As we flip the calendar to 2021, we are anticipating a new presidential administration, a divided Congress and a starkly different U.S. Supreme Court — a great time to speculate about what employers might expect to see in terms of legislation, enforcement and case law.

The vaccine and employers
With as many as three vaccines on the verge of being distributed, it is projected that front-line first responders, healthcare workers and vulnerable individuals in nursing homes and related facilities will be the first recipients.

New Hampshire real estate market remains red hot
In October, the number of closings rose 21% from a year ago and median sale price jumped 17.5%, to $350,000, compared to last year when the price was just under $300,000. In other words, the median homeowner gained $50,000 in equity in the last year,...

21 historic preservation projects receive LCHIP funds
“In these uncertain times, this news is a great boost for communities across the state,” said Jennifer Goodman, executive director of the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance. “LCHIP grants are matching investments that revive historic landmarks, help protect our sense of community and drive new economic activity.

Laconia Housing takes ownership of HUD project
Laconia Housing has taken ownership of the 98-unit Sunrise Towers public housing project from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the first time the agency has transferred property through a streamlined voluntary conversion process..

Group purchases land for off-road park in Berlin
Joel Wheeler, president of Four Wheeler Holdings and owner of MOMS (the former Motorcycles of Manchester), called the project an “opportunity to create an off-road destination that is accessible by area trail networks and that increases year-round powersports tourism in New Hampshire’s North Country.

CALENDAR
Items must be received a month before the event to ensure publication. For more details, visit nhbr.com.

Q&A INTERVIEW
Prompted by a grassroots effort by its members, New Hampshire Electric Cooperative is building out broadband in rural areas of New Hampshire that are severely lacking reliable internet coverage. NHEC was awarded a $6.

THE LATEST
The new center will also include dedicated space for the Intensive Outpatient Program, which offers group treatment for people with substance use disorders.

Emond and others honored by Concord Chamber
Christopher Emond, executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central New Hampshire,...

FLOTSAM&JETSAM
Just in the last few weeks came the meeting of the BC Delegation where a bunch of mask-refuseniks sat side by side with reps who actually own some common sense.