Page 31

Legislative preview: Some housing bills would repeal last year’s advances
Data centers and artificial intelligence also on menu

Power tripped
New Hampshire electricity sales stagnant during 2020s

NEW HAMPSHIRE GROUP
.

Old Farmer’s Almanac forecast calls for continued publication
A competitor’s closure fuels confusion — and a fresh burst of publicity and sales

NH BUSINESS REVIEW
.

New Hampshire to receive $200 million grant to address rural health needs
The money comes after years of consolidation and closures among New Hampshire’s rural hospitals and health care providers. Several rural hospitals have shut labor and delivery units over the past two decades, leading to long travel times for patients in those regions.

Clouds in the crystal ball for the 2026 economy
As 2025 unfolded, the data showed other warning signs for the state’s economy as well. The average number of jobs added in New Hampshire during the first nine months of 2025 totaled about 4,400, or 0.6% higher than the 2024 figures.

Socha Companies celebrates opening of 9th Queen City townhouse development
Socha Companies, a family-owned business focused on delivering new construction townhome solutions to the Manchester area, marked its most recent development in the Queen City last month with a grand opening ribbon cutting at Boulder Way.

IN BRIEF
CONCORD: Granite VNA is seeking volunteers from New Hampshire-based communities. From providing patient companionship and caregiver respite to supporting community health and bereavement programs, volunteers play a critical role in helping Granite VNA fulfill its mission.

Keene senior housing complex sold after court action
A senior housing complex in Keene that was millions in debt has sold, and the new owner says there will be no impact on residents.

TAKE 5
60% of people say that 2026 will be better for their wallet than 2025.

THE BOTTOM LINE
ALBANY INTERNATIONAL RECEIVES CYBERSECURITY CERTIFICATION

2026 starts with a bang
U.S. raids Venezuela; what’s next?

Darken the Pease Authority
A state report suggests transitioning functions to other state agencies

Amid volatility, local economies can provide a model of stability
Manufacturing, retailers, health care and more make up our ‘civic operating systems’

Where does home affordability go from here?
Index of affordability in New Hampshire tied for poorest showing in 2025

Hiding in plain sight
Loss of manufacturing jobs contributed to our housing crisis

Lakes Region asks for pipeline expansion
When New Hampshire called for more housing, the Lakes Region answered, and development in several central cities and towns took off fast. Then, the gas ran out.

Investing in youth
Building NH’s future workforce takes commitment

NH rural health care faces challenges despite new grant
The state has been awarded a $204 million federal grant to improve that system. However, federal spending on Medicaid, a lifeline for rural health care, is expected to decline by $2.

Cutting pennies from businesses is bad policy
For Green Wave, my car dealership on the Seacoast that sold about 500 cars in 2025, our Business Enterprise Tax bill is less than $10,000. The proposed cut would save me so little that I’ll likely pay my accountant more to understand the change than I’ll ever see back.

Hard times ahead for many NH families
Three policy decisions from 2025 that will shape life in New Hampshire in 2026 and beyond

Only trained surgeons should perform eye surgery
NH should insist that its citizens receive surgery from properly trained surgeons

Stop trying to do more and start doing what matters
How leaders can use January to set their organization up for a successful year

The NHBR BIZ LIST
The NHBR BIZ LIST

The NHBR BIZ LIST
Connect with one of NH’s largest law firms, as featured in NH Business Review’s 2025 Book of Lists.

iLawyer: artificial intelligence and the law
In 2024, computer programmers from DeepMind won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for developing an AI that predicts protein folding.

Preparing for NH’s parental medical leave law
Now that 2026 is underway, New Hampshire employers should turn their attention to the state’s new Parental Medical Leave law (PML).

The importance of asset location in wealth planning
When it comes to building and preserving wealth, most investors understand the importance of asset allocation — determining the right mix of stocks, bonds and other investments based on their risk.

Protect your business with a robust cyber plan
Cyberattacks now threaten organizations of every size and industry. Preventive security measures remain the strongest defense, but even the most sophisticated safeguards cannot guarantee immunity.

CALENDAR
Please send calendar items to AANDREWS@NHBR.COM

Q&A INTERVIEW
NH Fiscal Policy Institute Research Director Phil Sletten

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

ABOUT TOWN
1. Swim With a Mission (SWAM) announced the distribution of nearly $2 million in annual grants to 31 veteran service organizations throughout the region.