NH’s ‘Optics Valley’
Precision optics is booming in NH

Dartmouth professor honored for developing ‘camera-on-a-chip’ that powers smartphones
Eric Fossum co-invented technology that grew out of research at NASA

Boston’s financial dynasty
“House of Fidelity” chronicles the Johnson family, whose company brought investing to the masses

NEW HAMPSHIRE GROUP
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NH BUSINESS REVIEW
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IN BRIEF
DURHAM: RiverWoods Durham, a nonprofit continuing care retirement community, broke ground on its Phase 2 expansion on July 15, which will add 55 new independent living apartment homes, along with a standalone community center.

Benchmark at Rye completes expansion
Benchmark at Rye, an assisted living and mind and memory care community, opened a new 60,000-square-foot addition at its Route 1 campus, welcoming its first residents on May 1.

Legislature’s session changes housing, child care, tax policies
The Legislature wrapped up its session last month with the passage of a wide variety of bills, some of which have already been signed into law.

Full STEAM ahead for ArtLab
The Currier Museum of Art is expanding ArtLab, its hands-on, after-school STEAM partnership with Nashua Public Schools, after a pilot year that reached 58 students at four schools and connected classroom learning with art on view at the museum.

TAKE 5
In WalletHub’s Best & Worst Places to Rent in America study, Nashua, NH, ranked No. 11 based on various key measures such as rental attractiveness and quality of life

Defense co. creates stay, work, play in one site
Envision Technology founded by Ken Solinsky expects to employ 1,500 people

THE BOTTOM LINE
TIME MAGAZINE HONORS CONNECTION AS TOP PERFORMER

Firing up the fans
Fisher Cats aim to elevate the game experience

Filing period is over
Let the political races and quandaries begin

Overcoming skepticism, putting AI to work
NH investment firm says AI helps, but doesn’t replace, human collaboration

Sustainable investing reset
Despite political debate, it remains a productive approach to allocating capital

Confidence in economy waning, companies cautious
Only 17% of small businesses in the Northeast report high confidence, Citizens says

Learning from those below us
Managers would be wise to pay attention to what their reports have to say

Manchester and Nashua: Best bang for the buck in NH
WalletHub study gives cities high marks for financial stability, education, health and other metrics

Rural housing challenges
The scale that works in cities doesn’t fit small towns

Navigating your financial journey in wealth and trust planning
Whether you are planning for long-term growth, managing income needs, or preparing the next generation, wealth management often involves balancing multiple priorities.

NH home prices buck spring-to-summer trend
For the first time in a decade, median price drops from May to June

NH’s strongest trade partnership hiding in plain sight
U.S., Canada demonstrate the value of reliable partnership across the border

Take the SBA 250 Small Business Pledge
Celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday with an entrepreneurial spirit

Food fight in Merrimack
Fidelity teams compete to pack 50,000 meals for the New Hampshire Food Bank

Court hearing on legality of Woodstock, Vt., police chief’s demotion
Judge Kerry McDonald-Cady is tasked with deciding whether to reverse, affirm or modify the board of trustees’ decision to demote Joe Swanson.

New lawsuit alleges coordinated fraud
In 2018, George Papadimatos created Granite Senior Services LLC (GSS) for the development.

U.S. DOL issues 4 new wage, hour opinion letters
On May 28, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (DOL) published four new opinion letters addressing a variety of Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) questions. Below are key takeaways for employers.

Council postpones vote on hiring law firms
Londonderry’s Town Council is at odds over legal matters pertaining to hiring outside law firms to handle complaints and allegations of misconduct against the town manager.

Halfway through 2026 — the market tug of war
As we close out Q2 and review the year so far, there are several interesting dynamics at play.

Preparing for a smooth leadership transition
Succession planning for your business goes beyond naming the next leader. It involves preserving continuity for your employees and customers, as well as supporting the company’s long-term success.

Is your wealth strategy keeping up with growth?
For many business owners, building wealth is closely tied to the success of the company.

Preparation drives long-term business growth
One of the things I enjoy most about working with New Hampshire business owners is hearing what they’re building toward. Whether it’s growth, succession or greater stability, our conversations are almost always about the future.

Presidential Mountain Resort files for bankruptcy
A few years later, the proposed hotel was scrapped in favor of adding more cabins, which now number in the dozens on both sides of the highway.

CALENDAR
Please send calendar items to AANDREWS@NHBR.COM

Q&A INTERVIEW
Wire Belt CEO Jonathan Greer

THE LATEST
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ABOUT TOWN
1. Eastern Bank Foundation announced its 2026 Community Advocacy Award recipients. Eleven New England organizations are being recognized for advancing civic education.