2024 Economic Preview
Retail, hospitality perk up, but workforce shortage still lingers

Carbon credits program more popular as a means to address climate change
Forestry workforce may be affected by sale of Connecticut Lakes Forest

GSSI’s Flex NX wins Product of the Year
Ground-penetrating radar device wins big at NH Tech Alliance competition

Migration key to New Hampshire’s future growth
For the last 60 years, New Hampshire has relied on relatively high population growth to fuel its economic expansion.

NEW HAMPSHIRE GROUP
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NH BUSINESS REVIEW
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American Express survey shows U.S. holidays important for small businesses’ financial health
Small Business Edition Holiday Report, which outlines trends among U.S. small businesses heading into the holiday season.

Almost a year in, NH paid family and medical leave doesn’t have many participants
The benefit pays 60% of someone’s wages for up to six weeks while they deal with a medical condition or care for a loved one. It covers all state employees, and allows other employers to opt in.

IN BRIEF
Millennium Agency has been awarded a Davey Gold Award in the Corporate Identity sector for its work on client Hoyle Tanner’s new brand design.

Community center project planned for Manchester’s West Side
A community center for Manchester’s West Side that was has been in the works for several years has a new proposed home at the Kelly Falls housing community on Kimball Street, proponents announced this month.

TAKE 5
The Granite State ranked 51st out of all U.S. states and Washington, D.C., in the average number of accounts in distress and the total number of residents with accounts in distress.

THE BOTTOM LINE
U.S. Department of Agriculture State Director for Rural Development in Vermont and New Hampshire, Sarah Waring, announced that $765,211 in grant funding for two Twin State institutions.

Business scents
Alene Candles produces specialty lines at its Milford Factory

A place where mindfulness meets manufacturing
That “100%” means giving it your all but not more than you are required to do, so that workers are all carrying their fair share of the load.

Let’s talk about cannabis, gambling and guns
For an observer of New Hampshire public policy discussions for over 50 years, the subjects of discussion in Concord recently are both déjà vu and somewhat disconcerting.

Post-COVID, office vacancies on the rise
Recent Colliers report shows increase in hybrid work environments with flex work spaces

Dartmouth hoop players, college await ruling on unionization
Students who play on college sports teams can be called many things: jocks, teammates, student-athletes.

Laconia State School sale scheduled to close Jan. 15
$500m development to include 300+ apartment units, plus senior living, condos, townhouses, a hotel, retail space

Housing advocates see momentum for change despite tight market
NH communities are starting to ease zoning laws to allow for greater density

Public Utilities Commission approves plan changes
New energy efficiency plans moving forward, with split PUC decision

Protect your financial future
Take stock of these 8 financial tips for 2024

Grief in the workplace
How countless organizations are missing the mark when supporting grieving employees

The discordant epidemic
Collaboration is so much better and more productive than fighting

PBMs get high … on drug prices
Granite Staters struggle to pay for prescriptions, while middlemen rake in huge profits

New Hampshire must end tax discrimination against its own companies
All that state lawmakers have to do is end the clever accounting tricks that allow foreign multinational companies to avoid paying the same business taxes as local companies.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR
CHARLES LLOYD VICE CHANCELLOR, COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OF NEW HAMPSHIRE BOARD CHAIR, GRANITE UNITED WAY

Healing for the NH deaf mental health community after Lewiston
New Hampshire community members are encouraged to call or text 1-833-710-6477 to ensure a response from local crisis support providers.

New England College and hospitals aim to tackle nursing vacancies
New England College’s response was to create a new nursing program that benefits students and the state’s hospitals well before students graduate.

Border states come together to address health care shortage
Contact information for J-1 Program specialists in Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont can be found on nbrc.gov.

Construction industry outlook for the new year
As the New Hampshire construction industry heads into 2024, it continues to face high costs for materials and labor, making it difficult to meet the demand for affordable housing.

CALENDAR
GO TO NHBR.COM/CALENDAR FOR UPDATED & EXPANDED BUSINESS EVENT LISTINGS FROM AROUND THE STATE Please send calendar items to CALENDAR@NHBR.COM

Q&A INTERVIEW
NH Manufacturing Extension Partnership President Tony Fernandez

THE LATEST
Please send items for possible publication in The Latest to EDITOR@NHBR.COM Include a color photo if available.

ABOUT TOWN
Home Health & Hospice Care revealed the expansion of its Community Hospice House in Merrimack with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 16.