CONCORD: The state of New Hampshire has reached a $25 million settlement with agrochemical giant Monsanto over what the state says has been widespread PCB pollution in waterways and other stateowned property, according to the Attorney General’s Office. The state alleges that the contamination over nearly 50 years from Monsanto and two spinoff companies, Solutia and Pharmacia, polluted 104 waterways in the state that required numerous fish advisories. It also alleged that the PCB contamination is much more widespread than previously thought, and that the companies knew of the dangers but failed to warn the public. Gov. Chris Sununu said the settlement ensured the state would have the “financial resources necessary to remedy the harm that PCBs have caused to our environment.”
MANCHESTER: MOR Real Estate Holdings plans to convert the former Members First Credit Union’s office on Bridge Street in Manchester into 14 apartments. The credit union built its new main office at the corner of Elm and Salmon streets in Manchester after neighbors didn’t want housing in the prominent spot. The three-story, 18,000-square-foot office at 7 Salmon St. opened in September. The Bridge Street project will include 14,000 square feet of residential and 6,000 square feet of commercial space, according to the application. The proposal calls for nine two-bedroom apartments and five one-bedrooms, all described as “mid-luxury.”
LEBANON: The Upper Valley MedTech Collaborative will be hosting a MedTech Pitch Competition beginning at 5 p.m. April 27 at the Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon. The winner will receive $10,000 of non-dilutive funding. Applications are open to all Northern New England-based medtech startups that have raised less than $2 million through institutional investment. Leading up to the event, UVMTC will be hosting Pitch Peer Groups that will pair entrants with like-minded medtech entrepreneurs to practice their pitch. For more information, visit uvmtc.org.
CONCORD: Dr. NHTI President Gretchen Mullin-Sawicki, who has served at the helm of the school since 2019, has announced plans to step down from the job later on March 24. Community College System of NH Chancellor Mark Rubinstein said, “I thank Dr. Mullin-Sawicki for her leadership during a uniquely challenging time in the college’s history.” He will serve in a dual role and lead NHTI for an interim period while a successor is found.
CONCORD: NH Division of Travel and Tourism Director Lori Harnois has been elected to the U.S. Travel Association’s board of directors. The association, based in Washington, D.C., is a national nonprofit that represents all components of the travel industry, which it says generated $1.5 trillion in economic output and supported 11 million jobs in 2020. The newly elected directors will convene for the first time in person at a meeting in Washington in April.
CONCORD: The preliminary unemployment rate in New Hampshire for January was 2.9 percent, slightly below December’s 3 percent rate. Seasonally adjusted estimates for January placed the number of employed residents at 733,400, an increase of 1,060 from the previous month and an increase of 10,320 from January 2021. From December 2021 to January 2022, the total labor force increased by 700, to 755,560.
MANCHESTER: Girls Inc. of New Hampshire has been named a 2022 Champion in Action in the category of Mental Health Support and Education by Citizens and the NH Union Leader. The honor includes $35,000 in unrestricted funding, as well as promotional and volunteer support for the organization’s outstanding work. “Through our own curriculum and robust partnerships, we’re ensuring that the girls we serve have the tools they need to be healthy, both physically and mentally,” said Sharron Mc-Carthy, CEO of Girls Inc. NH.
CONCORD: The New Hampshire Lottery has launched a mobile app for players to check their tickets, find retail locations and stay up to date on new promotions. With the app, players can customize their preferences to show their favorite games and winning numbers and can see if they are a winner by scanning the bar code from the bottom front of scratch tickets and Powerball, Mega Millions, Lucky for Life and Tri-State Gimme 5. Players can also follow KENO 603 drawings, the NH Lottery said.
