NH Resources

 The Balsam's in Dixville Notch is surrounded by bad history.   Opened in 1865 the hotel thrived at a time when for 90% of the population reality was pretty grim. Each day thousands of low paid workers from across New England would wearily trudge into mills in Lowell, Lawrence, Manchester, Sanford and closer areas like Groveton, Berlin and some sources say even Littleton. Cloistered Opulence At Risk To The NH Taxpayer.   The history books actually enhance this era of grand hotels or gilded era. Scenes of cloistered opulence with crystal glasses and fine china appear while the grim reality in the lower castes of society were simply ignored. $28 Million Proposed Bailout For This Property.   Today the Balsam's looks like a "broken dollhouse." It's worse than this. It's developer like Les Otten is attempting to sell the idea of a $28 million dollar state backed loan guarantee and more recently, a "credit enhancement" to push this risky pr...

  The Business Finance Authority is set to vote in March on the Balsam's Bailout. This is a bad deal for New Hampshire.   The Balsam's Bailout. "There will have to be public hearings if they submit an application." said James Key-Wallace of the BFA in response to my concerns that this proposed $28 million dollar state guarantee involves too much risk and long-term consequences to the state treasury if it fails.     So where were the public hearings?     It will be interesting if this Balsam's bailout impacts the state owned Cannon mountain along with the rest of the state's ski industry. This will be bad for skiing and bad for New Hampshire.