1. The Southern New Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and its Government Affairs Committee hosted U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan for its anticipated 2025 Washington Update, held on June 20 at the A.J. Letizio Enterprise Center in Windham. The event aimed to start a dialogue between Hassan and local business leaders to cover national and global issues such as tariffs, tourism, the fiscal deficit and geopolitical landscapes.
2. Brady Sullivan Properties recently donated new Crocs for more than 150 girls from Girls Inc. of New Hampshire. This is the second time in two years that Brady Sullivan has made such a donation. Seventy-five girls from Girls Inc. Manchester Center and 85 from Girls Inc. Nashua Center, all ages 5 to 18, traveled by bus to Crocs’ outlet store at Merrimack Premium Outlets to pick out their shoes with help from Brady Sullivan volunteers.
3. To celebrate National Sisters Day on Aug. 3, sister companies Meredith Village Savings Bank and NHTrust donated $1,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Hampshire. The donation will help support the nonprofit’s ongoing efforts to help children facing adversity through professionally supported relationships. Big Brothers Big Sisters programs in the state include mentoring children of incarcerated parents, children with disabilities, children who identify as LGBTQ+ and more.
4. REVO Casino’s 10-day charity gaming event in Lebanon raised $41,237.07 for AVA Gallery & Art Center at 11 Bank St., Lebanon. AVA Gallery is a nonprofit in the Upper Valley aimed at encouraging creativity through the arts. The donations will support free programs like art classes for seniors, family drop-in sessions, and art experiences for those with disabilities. A segment of the funds will go toward maintenance of AVA’s 50,000-square-foot facility.
5. Merrimack County Savings Bank (The Merrimack) is celebrating Foundation Armor’s grand opening of its new Amherst headquarters and warehouse. Foundation Armor, a manufacturer of industrial-grade concrete sealers and coatings that was founded in 2012, reached out to The Merrimack and NH Business Finance Authority to secure financing for a 25,000-square-foot commercial facility. The new facility will help Foundation Armor expand its operations.
6. Kennebunk Savings in Kennebunk, Maine, recently donated $50,000 to Gather’s capital campaign for a new community food center. The new center, under construction at 124 Heritage Ave., Portsmouth, is expected to increase the food pantry’s scope of operations to meet the needs of the expanding number of food-insecure families on the Seacoast. Gather serves residents in New Hampshire and southern Maine, and runs mobile markets that deliver fresh food around Greater Seacoast.
