Business and Economy

Survey: Perception Of New Hampshire Economy Unchanged In 2013

Michael Brindley — Mon, 13 May 2013 10:59:13 +0000

After an improvement from 2011 to 2012, the perception of the New Hampshire economy has remained relatively unchanged over the past year.

That’s according to the latest Business and Industry Association Report on Consumer Confidence, conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center.

Millennium Gaming Unveils New Plan For Rockingham Park

Amanda Loder — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:34:50 +0000

After first proposing a $450 million dollar casino at Rockingham Park, Millennium Gaming is now proposing a complex costing, in their words, “north of $600 million.” The redesigned project was unveiled at a Town Hall meeting last night in Salem.

Pennsylvanians Tout Casino Benefits To N.H. Lawmakers

Amanda Loder — Wed, 08 May 2013 20:26:44 +0000

Millennium Gaming brought leaders from Washington County, Pennsylvania to Concord to tout the benefits of a casino to lawmakers at a lunch meeting today. Millennium runs The Meadows casino and racetrack in Washington. If New Hampshire allows a casino at Rockingham Park, Millennium would develop it.

Sturm, Ruger Announces Plans To Expand Out-Of-State

Amanda Loder — Fri, 03 May 2013 22:04:06 +0000

It’s been a busy few years for Sturm, Ruger…so much so, the company is looking to start another factory out-of-state.

Broadcast TV On Digital Devices Comes To N.H. Counties

Emily Corwin — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 19:07:16 +0000

Beginning next month, New Hampshire residents will be able to watch broadcast television on their digital devices, thanks to a controversial new service called Aereo, which is now expanding to Boston and beyond.

Three N.H. Tech Companies Receive Granite Fund Venture Capital

Emily Corwin — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:31:37 +0000

Three New Hampshire companies are receiving capital from a New-Hampshire centered venture fund backed by the state and managed by Borealis Ventures. Get the backstory on the Granite Fund at StateImpact New Hampshire.

Sequestration Hits Long-Term Unemployed In NH

Amanda Loder — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 21:26:13 +0000

The automatic federal budget cuts known as “Sequestration” will soon hit the long-term unemployed in New Hampshire. People who remain jobless for more than 26 weeks are eligible for federally-funded emergency unemployment benefits.

And those benefits will soon be cut.

Economic Tensions Fuel Disagreement Between Car Makers and Dealers

Emily Corwin — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:41:01 +0000

As competition in the auto industry heats up, car makers are tightening their image and branding campaigns. But car dealers -- who feel financially vulnerable despite soaring profits -- say manufacturers are expecting them to pay too much of the price.

State Unemployment Rate Decreases Slightly

Emily Corwin — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 20:27:03 +0000

The unemployment rate in New Hampshire went down slightly last month, according to a preliminary report from the state.

The state's unemployment rate for March decreased to 5.7 percent last month from February’s 5.8 percent, according to economist Annette Nielsen at NH Employment Security:

It’s been pretty stable over the last few months so just a little in the right direction – is good!

High Demand Drives Up Prices At Concord Gun Show

Emily Corwin — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 18:01:53 +0000

About 300 vendors are selling firearms at the Concord Gun Show this weekend. NHPR’s Emily Corwin was there.

The parking lot of the Everett Ice Arena is packed with cars, as a steady stream of gun enthusiasts line up for this weekend’s Concord Gun Show. According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation pending legislation is fueling consumer demand for firearms and ammunition.

At the gun show, buyers say they see that reflected in high prices, especially for ammunition.

And, attendees say turnout is high:

145 Businesses Pitch Their Products At Made In N.H. Expo

Emily Corwin — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 19:29:44 +0000

More than 10,000 people filed into the Manchester Radisson’s Expo Center this weekend to taste test, try on, and purchase products made by 145 New Hampshire companies.

Stretch’s Pickles of Keene was one of those businesses.

Owners Glenna and Craig Hjelm say both Craig’s parents and their kids pitch in to make the business thrive:

N.H. Entrepreneurs Launch Social Network For The Prayerful

Amanda Loder — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 11:30:00 +0000

Billions of Christians around the world are in the midst of Holy Week observances in the run-up to Easter. Many of these rituals have been in place for centuries.

But how does an ancient faith adapt to the age of the internet, social networks, and smartphones?

So far, the answer is “slowly.”

But a pair of New Hampshire entrepreneurs hope they can speed up the process.

It’s fitting that the idea for a prayer-based social network came to Jamie Coughlin and his brother Adam while they were parked on a pew at Mass.

Granite Staters Commute Longer Than Most, Paying Quarter Billion In Income Taxes To Massachusetts

Emily Corwin — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 19:17:58 +0000

At 6:15 every morning, Christine Suchecki leaves her house in Windham, NH, and spends the next hour and twenty minutes driving almost 40 miles to her job as a nurse in Boston. Her husband drives in a similar direction, to Waltham, MA. “We just look at it as either you’re going to pay financially in your proximity to the city, or with time in your commute,” Suchecki says.

Green Business Initiative Sees Rewards, But Faces Challenges

Amanda Loder — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 12:30:00 +0000

A taxpayer-funded eco-business program is paying off for New Hampshire. The Green Launching Pad at the University of New Hampshire has given grants to more than a dozen start-ups in the state. But it hasn’t awarded any new funds since last year.

The Power New England, Resident Power Situation Explained

Sam Evans-Brown — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 22:00:26 +0000

Many Granite State electric customers are scratching their heads after an electricity supplier, Power New England, was abruptly kicked out of the market two weeks ago. Customers of Power New England and its sister company, Resident Power, have had to try to sort out what's going on from media reports where utilities and power suppliers are slinging accusations back forth indiscriminately.

So here’s a breakdown of what has happened to date.

Who are Resident Power and Power New England?