Recipients of the Coos Economic Development Corp.’s first Business Leaders of Coos (BLOC) Award pose for a photo after the June 13 ceremony in the Crystal Ballroom at The Mountain View Grand Resort in Whitefield. From left: Jamie Samson, Bouquet Boutique; Ryan Charest and Ellen Mikesh, Live Free Food Store; and Kim Fauteux and Kelly Dabillis, Up North Gifts. (Photo by John Koziol) On June 13, the Coos Economic Development Corp. (CEDC) held its annual meeting and honored recipients with Business Leaders of Coos (BLOC) Awards.
The event included a lot of networking; the empaneling of new officers for the Lancaster-based CEDC; a keynote address by Sarah Waring, the USDA state director, Rural Development for Vermont and New Hampshire; as well as the presentation of BLOC awards for Outstanding Startup; Young Entrepreneur; Agriculture; Veteran-Owned Business; and Woman-Owned Business.
Nominations for the awards, according to the CEDC, were based on resilience and growth, community impact, innovation and creativity, job creation and collaboration.
BLOC Award recipients were:
Woman-Owned Business: Up North Gifts, led by Kim Fauteux and Kelly Dabillis since 2021. This barn-turned-thriving-gift-store in Pittsburg sold 600 shirts celebrating the April 8 solar eclipse, and continue to serve patrons with unique items including apparel, home décor, pet supplies, gourmet treats and more.
Young Entrepreneur: Ellen Mikesh and Ryan Charest, who own the Live Free Food Store on Main Street in Berlin, made their mission to produce “scratch food made with love” in a “deli meets cottagestyle bakery.”
Outstanding Startup: Lancaster-based Bouquet Boutique from floral designer Jamie Samson. According to the startup’s website, Jamie uses “creative intuition, a standout color palette and fresh product” to curate customer’s “flower dreams.”
Agriculture: White Mountain Apiary in Whitefield started in 2011 and fosters bees to produce natural honey products, and they also provide live bee removal services as well as adult and children’s classes.
Veteran-Owned Business: Exile Burrito in downtown Berlin was opened by Adam Hammill, a retired U.S. Coast Guardsman, in 2020. It offers such fare as burritos, burgers, nachos, quesadillas and much more.
In her keynote address, Waring saluted both the BLOC award winners and the multiple nominees in each category, telling them that they and their businesses are a part of the future and that small businesses make up some 90% of all businesses.
“You are an important economic engine and this (Vermont and northern New Hampshire) is one of the best places to be” in the U.S., said Waring, because of the resources available to small business, including through the CEDC.
The CEDC is one of nine Regional Development Corporations (RDCs) in New Hampshire. It provides resources to both for-profit and nonprofit organizations “to assist in stimulating growth resulting in sustainable jobs in Coos County.”
— JOHN KOZIOL
