Talk of the Town

GreenSource gets $46m federal grant GreenSource Fabrication in Charlestown, a manufacturer of printed circuit boards, will receive $46.2 million in federal funds through the Department of Defense, The Keene Sentinel reported in December. The funding will promote the domestic supply chain for semiconductors, which are used by all major U.S. defense systems. The grant will broaden access to advanced hardware that, until recently, could be procured only from foreign sources, U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said in a statement. Owned by Whelan Engineering in Chester, Conn., GreenSource employs about 800 on the 40-acre Charlestown campus. State OKs $15m to recruit child-care workers The N.H. Executive Council approved at its meeting Nov. 29 $15 million in funding for statewide recruitment and retention efforts in the child-care industry. The approved funds may be used for such things as professional training, student loan repayment, sign-on bonuses and wage increases, tuition assistance, health savings accounts and more. The funds "provide meaningful incentives to continue growing the industry's workforce," Gov. Chris Sununu said in a statement. Administered by the state Department of Health and Human Services, the funding will allow child-care providers to attract and retain skilled workers, which will in turn allow them to remain in business, said DHHS Commissioner Lori Weaver. The governor's office said the state has invested more than $150 million since 2020 to stabilize and strengthen child care, and the majority of the funds have gone directly to New Hampshire child-care providers. Winter tourism expected to top pre-pandemic levels After a record-setting summer season, the N.H. Division of Travel and Tourism anticipates an estimated 3 million people will visit New Hampshire this winter, with spending by those visitors expected to reach $1.5 billion, on par with last year's numbers. DTTD unveiled its winter marketing plan, along with its forecast for visitation, as part of Ski New Hampshire's winter kickoff event held in December at Prinoth in Concord. "We're very optimistic about this winter season," N.H. Travel and Tourism Director Lori Harnois said in a statement. "This is the first time since the pandemic visitation is expected to surpass levels we experienced in 2019." The state welcomed 4.5 million visitors last summer, up 3.3 percent from fiscal year 2022. Visitor spending totaled $2.3 billion, up 3.3 percent from the previous year. Tourism numbers were up overall last year, DTTD reports. Fall visitor spending amounted to $1.7 billion, an increase of 7.3 percent over the previous year. Visits for the fall season totaled 3.6 million, up 1.9 percent. Spring visitor spending also totaled $1.7 billion, representing a 7.6 percent increase over the previous year. The state welcomed 3.2 million visitors in the spring, up 5.3 percent. Winter visitor spending increased to $1.5 billion, up 17.4 percent from fiscal year 2022. Total visitation for the winter season was 3 million, up 3.4 percent. Peterboro still making baskets Peterboro Basket Co., whose closing announcement in 2022 made national news, continues to craft and sell baskets. A call to the company in December confirmed that Peterboro was "still making baskets." In a July 28 Facebook post, the company announced that while it had planned to close its doors in the fall of 2022 – and did close for a short time – "circumstances have allowed us to begin manufacturing ash baskets again." The May 2022 announcement of the company's closing after 168 years in business pointed to a shortage of Appalachian white ash due to the emerald ash borer as one of the reasons for closing. Labor shortages and supply-chain issues were also cited. The July 2023 Facebook post said the company was able to acquire some ash lumber and New Hampshire craftspeople are handweaving the iconic baskets again. The baskets would be available "in limited numbers and for a limited time," according to the post. As of December, customers could still order baskets through the company's website or by visiting the company's factory store in Peterborough, open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Blue Seal buys Achille Agway Blue Seal Feeds Inc. acquired Peterborough-based Achille Agway late last year for an undisclosed sum after a previously announced sale to Runnings retail stores fell through. Blue Seal is part of the privately held Kent Nutrition Group based in Muscatine, Iowa. "Achille Agway and Blue Seal share similar core values, which drew us to this company in addition to the growth potential we see with respect to the shopping experience we both provide," Mike Gauss, KNG president, said in a statement. The Nov. 14 acquisition includes stores in Keene, Peterborough, Walpole, Hillsboro and Milford, as well as Brattleboro, Vt. The Achille family and staff will continue to run the stores, the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript reported in December. Runnings announced in February 2023 that the company had reached an agreement to acquire Achille Enterprises Inc., but the sale failed to materialize. Achille Agway Controller Kathy Letourneau confirmed the sale to Blue Seal in an email Nov. 28. Letourneau indicated Runnings' announcement was premature, in her words "putting the cart way before the horse." Runnings did not respond to a request for comment. In business since 1965, Achille Agway carries lawn and garden supplies, pet products, livestock feeds, birdseed, seasonal items and more. Blue Seal, which produces equine, dairy, poultry, pet and other animal feed, was founded in 1868 in Lawrence, Mass. Greenwald Realty rebrands After 37 years in business, Greenwald Realty Associates has announced a rebranding. Now Greenwald Realty Group, or GRG, the business seeks to honor its history while embracing a modern vision for the future, according to a recent news release. Mitchell Greenwald started Greenwald Realty Associates in 1986 after 20 years of owning and operating a retail clothing store on Main Street in Keene. The real estate agency initially focused on apartment rentals and property management primarily for college students. With Greenwald as principal broker, the business expanded to listing and selling residential and commercial properties. In 2003, Greenwald's son, Joshua Greenwald, moved back to Keene with his wife to start a family and team up with his father to mold the business into a boutique-style neighborhood real estate agency like the ones he saw while living in Brooklyn, N.Y. The centerpiece of the rebranding is a combination of a new name and logo. Joshua Greenwald, now principal broker and owner of the business, said in a statement, "The previous name and its look, Greenwald Realty Associates, has been the same since I was 10 years old in 1986. Referring to us and our 14 Realtors® as 'Associates' wasn't sitting too well with me anymore and didn't properly describe what we have evolved to be." Bensonwood to offer apprenticeships To encourage more young people to join the carpentry profession, Bensonwood in Walpole plans to launch an apprenticeship program this summer in collaboration with NHTI in Concord, the company announced in November. The design-build company will be joining other New Hampshire construction companies in sponsoring a registered carpentry apprenticeship, according to a news release. This three-year initiative was launched in 2021 by ApprenticeshipNH, a workforce training program through the Community College System of New Hampshire. Bensonwood apprentices will be full-time employees with benefits while getting on-the-job training and taking related instruction at NHTI. Further planning to launch the apprenticeship program will happen over the next few months with the support of grant funds accessed through the Community College System of New Hampshire and Apprenticeship Building America, a program funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, the company said. For more information about the apprenticeship program, contact emily@bensonwood.com or follow the company's social media accounts for announcements. In business for 50 years, Bensonwood focuses on sustainable construction and prefabrication methods and employs 130 skilled workers. Arts sector generates $25m in 2022 The Monadnock Region's nonprofit arts and culture sector generated $25 million in economic activity in 2022, according to an impact study released in October by Americans for the Arts. That economic activity – $18.2 million in spending by nonprofit arts and culture organizations and $6.8 million in event-related spending by their audiences – supported 521 jobs, provided $20.6 million in personal income to residents, and generated $5.3 million in local, state and federal government revenue, according to the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 study, the 6th of its kind. Other takeaways from the Monadnock Region's AEP6 study: The typical attendee spends $32.51 per person per event, not including the cost of admission. About 27 percent of arts and culture attendees came from outside the region in which the activity took place. They spent an average of $56.53. More than 87 percent of respondents agreed that the activity or venue they were attending was "a source of neighborhood pride for the community." More than 85 percent said they would "feel a sense of loss if that activity or venue was no longer available." Nearly 80 percent agreed that the venue or facility where they were surveyed is "an important pillar for me within my community." "This study continues to remind us of the economic and social impacts that the arts and arts institutions have across our region," Jessica Gelter, executive director of Arts Alive, said in a prepared statement. "We are grateful to the 840 audience members and 68 arts and cultural organizations that participated in this study. It is our goal in the coming years to increase access to and visibility of arts and culture so that more folks can enjoy the benefits of participating in these meaningful community events." AEP6 reveals that America's nonprofit arts and culture sector is a $151.7 billion industry — one that supports 2.6 million jobs and generates $29.1 billion in government revenue. Keene's new mayor to focus on workforce Former state Sen. Jay Kahn began a two-year term as mayor of the city of Keene at the start of the new year with an agenda of "leading the city to thrive in the next decade" by retaining residents and businesses and controlling taxes. In a campaign statement, Kahn indicated that workforce issues, housing, taxes, infrastructure, education and health care remain high on his list of priorities. "Our population needs to grow enough to have the workforce to sustain and attract local businesses and services," Kahn said. "The mayor needs to sustain citizen, business and organization engagement in planning and decisions, so we're all in this together." Kahn replaces George Hansel, who opted against seeking a third term in office. A 35-year resident of Keene, Kahn was elected mayor Nov. 7 in a landslide victory, receiving 91 percent of the votes, The Keene Sentinel reported. Kahn is a former city councilor and retired vice president of finance and planning at Keene State College. He also served as an interim president of the school and holds a Ph.D. in public policy analysis from the University of Illinois at Chicago. MEDC names program manager Nancy DuBosque has been hired as program manager for the Monadnock Economic Development Corp., Executive Director Cody Morrison announced in December. DuBosque previously worked with the N.H. Small Business Development Center and the state Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation. In her new role, DuBosque will be MEDC's point of contact for commercial financing and revolving loan fund programs. To learn more about commercial finance opportunities for equipment, real estate, working capital and more through MEDC, visit monadnockedc.org/business-loans. DuBosque can be reached by phone at 603-209-1329 or by email at nancyd@monandockedc.org. Nissan dealership becomes Nucar New England-based automotive dealership group DCD Automotive Holdings Inc. has acquired Nissan of Keene, now known as Nucar Nissan of Keene. Dan Dagesse, chairman of DCD Automotive Holdings, parent company of Nucar, founded the Berlin City Auto Group. He went on to form DCD Automotive Holdings with his son, Christopher Dagesse, who serves as the group's CEO. Together, they bought dealerships under a new group called Nucar. They own more than 20 locations in Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. "As a New Hampshire native whose family founded our company in the Granite State, this is sort of a homecoming to me," Chris Dagesse said in a statement following announcement of the acquisition in October. "New Hampshire holds a special place in my heart and DCD Automotive is proud to welcome Nucar Nissan of Keene to our growing portfolio of dealerships." Business partner Shawn Hanlon will serve as president of New Hampshire and Vermont operations. DCD reports it has grown to more than 1,600 total employees across its nearly 25 locations and generates more than $1.85 billion in sales. FPU to launch physician assistant program Franklin Pierce University in Rindge plans to launch a hybrid master's degree program in physician assistant studies in March at the school's newest academic center in Round Rock, Texas. The MPAS program has been two years in the making, the university says. Some 48 students are enrolled in the program. Catherine M. Paden, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs, said in a statement in October, "Our graduate allied health program portfolio remains attuned to the dynamic demands of today's evolving landscape and reaffirms Franklin Pierce's dedication to serving the educational needs of students, no matter where they live." Students will travel to the Austin suburb of Round Rock for a series of immersion weeks throughout their course of study, modeled after FPU's Goodyear, Ariz., hybrid MPAS program. Since April 2018, university administration and allied health sciences faculty have been exploring strategies not only to enhance enrollment, but also meet the needs of the significant population growth anticipated in underserved communities in New Hampshire and beyond. University system: no tuition hike The University System of New Hampshire says it won't increase undergraduate tuition for New Hampshire residents for the 2024-2025 academic year, marking the 6th straight year in-state students will pay the same tuition rates as in 2019-2020 at the University of New Hampshire, Keene State College and Plymouth State University. Cathy Provencher, USNH chief administrative officer and vice chancellor, said in a statement Nov. 14, "Amid continued inflationary, demographic and market pressures, the University System of New Hampshire remains deeply committed to maintaining its mission of providing affordable, accessible and relevant degree programs that support the New Hampshire workforce and way of life with capable graduates." Paper mill announces personnel changes Monadnock Paper Mills in Bennington, the oldest continuously operating paper mill in the United States, has named Daniel Burke chief financial officer and treasurer and appointed Heather Starkey, Ph.D., as research scientist. Burke assumes the role of CFO following the retirement of Andrew Manns in the new year. Burke is a CPA with more than 22 years of financial management experience in the manufacturing and distribution industries. Most recently, he served as the corporate controller at Velcro Companies, where he managed an international team of 60 accountants across the globe. Before his tenure at Velcro, he held the position of vice president of finance at Iredale Cosmetics. Starkey will work closely with the manufacturing and sales departments to develop the next generation of sustainable and durable materials for the printing and packaging industries, the company said. Starkey has worked at Georgia-Pacific, Chung Hwa Pulp Corp. and most recently Ingredion, where she led cross-functional product teams developing new starch technologies for adhesive applications and barrier coatings. She earned bachelor of science degrees in pulp and paper engineering and chemical engineering from North Carolina State University, where she also earned a doctorate in forest biomaterials. Keene Sentinel hires ad director Linc Murphy has joined Keene Sentinel Publishing as director of advertising and marketing, the company announced in January. He will lead the company's multimedia advertising sales, advertising operations, events and specialty publications groups as well as business-to-business marketing. Most recently, Murphy was with Effectv, a Comcast company based in Bedford, where he represented digital products and services including digital television and over-the-top and streaming solutions to local and national advertisers. Murphy also worked for Wayfair in Boston, Gannett and GateHouse Media. Decarbonization projects win federal grant Climate technology company BlocPower announced in October that three of its affiliated projects in Colorado, Wisconsin and New Hampshire won federal environmental contracts totaling $1.5m for electrification, weatherization, building assessment and workforce development. The building retrofit and electrification in the Monadnock Region won a $700,000 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. With it, BlocPower says it will replace fossil-fuel heating systems with cold-climate heat pumps in 250 buildings in Peterborough and Harrisville. It will also launch a workforce development initiative with local partners – Lakes Region Community College, MAXT Makerspace and ApprenticeshipNH – training residents to become energy auditors, weatherization specialists and heat pump installers, as well as increasing the number of qualified green economy workers in the region. The project is an expansion of an existing pilot program BlocPower launched in Peterborough last May. Winchendon Furniture closes After 84 years in business, Massachusetts-based Winchendon Furniture announced in October that it would close after a liquidation sale at its flagship store in Winchendon, Mass. New Hampshire stores in Amherst and Keene were shuttered previously. Richard Ladeau founded the company in 1939 as Winchendon Custom Upholstery Co. After buying the property at 13 Railroad St. in Winchendon, Ladeau added antique restoration and later, with his brother Frank as partner, gradually transitioned to selling new brand-name furniture, according to a company news release. Second- and third-generation family members Joe Ladeau, Ryan Ladeau and Keith Ladeau most recently ran the business. The company changed its name to Winchendon Furniture in 1980 and subsequently added the New Hampshire shops, including the downtown Keene location in 2014. Sam's to shutter Brattleboro store Sam's Outdoor Outfitters is preparing to close its flagship store in downtown Brattleboro next spring, and the shops in North Swanzey and Hadley, Mass., are on the market, The Keene Sentinel reported in September. Sam's President Brad Borofsky told The Sentinel if he doesn't receive an offer he deems reasonable, he plans to continue to run the remaining stores for the foreseeable future. Borofsky's grandfather, Sam Borofsky, started the business in downtown Brattleboro more than nine decades ago when he purchased an Army and Navy surplus store from his brother Irving in the early 1930s. The store became Sam's Outdoor Outfitters in the 1980s after years of expanding its range of merchandise to include sporting goods and casual clothing. Borofsky said he will end the lease and pull out of the location at 74 Main St. by the end of April. "The Brattleboro store really hasn't been performing great for quite some time," Borofsky told The Sentinel. "We've been watching the sales either drop a little or stay where they were for quite some time. We did get a boom from the pandemic, which was a surprise, but now that all seems to be over, and we seem to be back on the track we were before." Vermont Rising Stars named Five young professionals from Southern Vermont were among 40 named Rising Stars for 2023 by Vermont Business Magazine. Local winners of the "40 under age 40" included Daniel Chiaccio of Brattleboro, owner of First Proof Press; Andie Fusco of Bennington, real estate agent with Four Seasons Sotheby's International Realty; Dora Levinson of Dummerston, research and data director at Building Bright Futures; Peter Paggi of Brattleboro, director of real estate development at Windham and Windsor Housing Trust; and Ahmad Yassir of North Bennington, artists and marketing manager for VT News & Media. A panel of judges select Rising Stars based on commitment to business growth, professional excellence and community involvement. SBW announces promotion Kendra Carter has been promoted to vice president of retail administration at Savings Bank of Walpole. The bank announced in October that Carter will oversee the bank's retail training program as well as manage implementation of additional retail-driven initiatives. Carter, who has been with Savings Bank of Walpole since 2005, previously served as assistant vice president, retail operations officer. Three join FPU Board of Trustees The Franklin Pierce University Board of Trustees announced the appointment of three new members in October. They are Ellen Arnold, Trent Spiner '07 and Alexandra (Marella) Johnson '15. Arnold is an attorney who most recently served "of counsel" at McLane Middleton in Manchester. She is the founder and manager of Arnold Land Consulting. From 2001 to 2019, she served as director of real estate and associate general counsel at Dartmouth College. Spiner is a journalist who has worked for both state and national news organizations, including as a reporter for Politico and executive editor of the N.H. Union Leader. Since 2020, he has served as editor-in-chief for the American Psychological Association. Johnson, appointed to foster greater collaboration and input from younger alumni, works for the state Department of Health and Human Services. She earned a bachelor's degree in social work and counseling at FPU. Bodin named Banker of the Year Mark Bodin, president of Savings Bank of Walpole, has been named the 2023 Community Banker of the Year by the N.H. Bankers Association. Each year, the N.H. Bankers Association honors a New Hampshire bank employee who has gone beyond the course of ordinary business through civic and community engagement. Bodin was selected by an independent panel of state elected officials, including Senate President Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro), Senate Democratic Leader Donna Soucy (D-Manchester) and Rep. John Hunt (R-Rindge), chair of the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee. "If you spend just a little bit of time with Mark, it becomes abundantly clear that he has a heart of service to his community," Kristy Merrill, president of the bankers association, said in a statement. "Not only does he embody the spirit of a community banker through his actions, but he encourages his team to do so as well with 40 percent of Savings Bank of Walpole employees serving on local non-profit boards and committees." Bodin received the award during the N.H. Bankers Association's Annual Conference held in September in Quebec City, Canada. Welcoming Workplaces wins award The Brattleboro Development Credit Corp.'s Welcoming Workplaces training program has received a gold award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). BDCC announced in the fall that it won in the category of talent development and retention for communities with a population between 25,000 and 200,000. BDCC's Welcoming Workplaces initiative focuses on recruiting and retaining BIPOC and foreign-born Vermonters. The talent recruitment program is designed to increase the size and quality of the region's dwindling workforce, BDCC said in a news release. The project is part of the Southern Vermont Working Communities Challenge, a collaborative, multi-stakeholder project with a goal of attracting 1,000 New Vermonters by 2030. Since the start of the project, Windham County has welcomed 200 refugees and asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Latin America and Africa. Some 93 percent of job seekers have found employment paying an average hourly wage of $18 in high-demand occupations, including wood products and services, non-durable goods manufacturing, construction, and shipping and logistics. Get your goats Kelly McCutcheon of Broken Boat Farm LLC in Henniker won the 2023 PitchFork Challenge, taking home the $10,000 prize. Also known as VanGoat Family Landscaping, Broken Boat Farm uses goats and sheep for vegetation management and land-reclamation projects for homeowners, businesses and municipalities. Founded in 2021, Broken Boat Farm rents out grazing goats to remove "difficult and irritating vegetation," such as poison ivy, bittersweet and brambles, from residences, businesses and ground solar arrays. The company serves clients in Central New Hampshire. McCutcheon plans to use the $10,000 PitchFork prize money to buy a larger livestock trailer so the animals can travel to appointments together. Other PitchFork finalists included Em Dewey of Garden of the Moon, Josh Boisvert of NewFinn Designs, Oz Kibar of Ekid+ and Owen Miller of East Alstead Roasting Co., who was unable to participate in the final pitch event at the September Radically Rural summit in Keene due to illness. PitchFork is an annual rural business pitch competition sponsored by the Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship in Keene. Visit https://hannahgrimes.com/programs/pitchfork/ for more information. Local bank named best to work for For the seventh consecutive year, American Banker magazine named the Savings Bank of Walpole to the 2023 list of Best Banks to Work For in the United States. SBW ranked 46th out of 90, the only New Hampshire bank to make the list. "As a small, local bank, being included on American Banker Magazine's Best Banks to Work For list is a great honor for Savings Bank of Walpole," Mark Bodin, president of Savings Bank of Walpole, said in a statement. The Best Banks to Work For Program recognizes U.S. banks for outstanding employee satisfaction. Full results were published in the November issue of American Banker magazine. Brattleboro bank promotes four Brattleboro Savings & Loan announced several promotions in December, including the promotion of Julie Hamilton to the role of vice president. With the bank for 40 years, Hamilton most recently served as the institution's controller. Cassie Kelley, Karen Fortier and Sue Russell were all named assistant vice presidents. Kelley previously served as the bank's marketing director, Fortier as operations manager and Russell as loan-processing manager and underwriter. Industry magazine honors Ted's Shoe & Sport Footwear Insight magazine named Ted's Shoe & Sport in Keene one of the "Best of the Best" in the nation for customer service. The business was listed among the highest scoring stores. Owner Ted McGreer was featured in the November-December issue of the industry publication. New Hampshire Insurance Department Issues Warning about Telephone Scam Targeting Consumers State warns of insurance scam The N.H. Insurance Department urges consumers to be vigilant in light of a recent telephone scam targeting individuals across the state. Scammers posing as representatives from insurance broker offices, are making unsolicited calls and asking suspicious questions to extract personal information, the department reports. Fraudulent callers claim to be from reputable insurance brokers and employ tactics to trick consumers into providing sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, financial details and other personal data. The department warns against sharing personal information during unsolicited calls. If you receive a suspicious call, the department advises you to hang up and contact your insurance agent directly using a trusted phone number. Suspicious activity can be reported to the state by calling 1-800-852-3416. Webinar offered on grants Have you wondered about how to apply for a grant for your business? The Center for Women and Enterprise in Manchester offers a free on-demand webinar on how to apply for the right grant for your business. There are many types of small business grants available to business owners and for different purposes, CWE points out. This online workshop covers topics such as how to go about looking for grants and how to be successful in applying for them. The session also covers go-to websites for grant opportunities. Visit https://cwewbc.ecenterdirect.com/events/978989 for more information. Degree in AI offered New England Institute of Technology in Rhode Island unveiled plans in October to offer a new bachelor's degree program in artificial intelligence, beginning with the fall 2024 term. Douglas H. Sherman, Ed.D., senior vice president and provost, said undergraduate programs in AI are surprisingly limited. "At present, university programs are mostly offered at the graduate level, intending to upskill an existing workforce," Sherman said in a statement. "However, New England Tech sees the need for an undergraduate program that will create an entire next-generation computer science professional possessing a deep understanding of the design, operation and ethical application of AI." The school's announcement comes at a time when companies are making major investments in AI. Graduates from the new program are expected to work in a wide variety of industries including health care, banking, software development, logistics management, infrastructure operations and education. Do you have business news to share? Send it to editor@thebusinessjournal.net.