NH Resources

The Business Finance Authority made the right decisions in the now withdrawn Balsams Bailout.     New Hampshire does alot for a small state to advance economic development and create good jobs. This is significant because the Granite State can't dole out generous tax, land, energy and workforce incentives the way states like Tennessee, South Carolina and Connecticut can. Yet New Hampshire still manages to attract some quality business endeavors.     The Balsam's Bailout proposal wasn't a quality business endeavor. It was an example of speculation, risk and more to this point- gambling. And had these real estate dice rolls come up short the real loser would have been NH taxpayers.     But post Balsams Bailout I'm not understanding the behavior of local elected officials like Executive Councilor Joe Kenney and Berlin Mayor Paul Grenier. Their attitude seems to be one of complaining if not whining why this risky real estate deal didn't move forward. ...

 Gubernatorial candidate Steve Marchand is a perpetual politician that has no real plans for New Hampshire.   Marchand made a recent campaign swing through Berlin and from the article by Barbara Tetrault, "is running partly because a lot of people have urged him to make another run." Marchand says.    Not a lot of substance there. Berlin like the rest of northern New Hampshire faces mounting challenges in everything from education quality to increasing strain on the local property taxpayer. The Marchand campaign offers nothing. I wonder who these people are that are urging him to run for Governor?     Marchand seems proud of his French-Canadian heritage, yet like the rest of his empty campaign offers nothing about what New Hampshire could do with Canada.     An experienced if not career politician, Marchand tries to make the argument that "no state has less of a relationship between state and local governments. Which really isn't true. New...

After the Northern Pass decision was reached Mayor Paul Grenier responded by making statements about Governor Chris Sununu and economic development in the North Country. Neither of these statements has any validity.   "This sends a very chilling message to anyone working to bring economic development to the North Country." Grenier said as he requested that Gov. Sununu take a more active role in addressing the real issues in the North Country. He didn't say what these real issues are.   Berlin could pursue many strategies in economic development and creating jobs but it's clear that Mayor Grenier himself that isn't taking an active role in addressing the real issues in the North Country. Norfolk Southern Heads North Into Canada.   As a long-term railfan I've excitedly and recently watched Norfolk Southern railroad locomotives power a St. Lawrence & Atlantic train up through Berlin enroute to Canada. There is immense potential to use rail transporta...

 After the Northern Pass decision was reached Mayor Paul Grenier responded by making statements about Governor Chris Sununu and economic development in the North Country. Neither of these statements has any validity.   "This sends a very chilling message to anyone working to bring economic development to the North Country." Grenier said as he requested that Gov. Sununu take a more active role in addressing the real issues in the North Country. He didn't say what these real issues are.   Berlin could pursue many strategies in economic development and creating jobs but it's clear that Mayor Grenier himself that isn't taking an active role in addressing the real issues in the North Country. I've Recently Seen Trains To/From Canada.   As a long-term railfan I've excitedly and recently watched Norfolk Southern railroad locomotives power a St. Lawrence & Atlantic train up through Berlin enroute to Canada. There is immense potential to use rail transp...

 Within hours of the Northern Pass decision Berlin Mayor Paul Grenier made statements about Governor Chris Sununu and economic development in the North Country.   "This sends a very chilling message to anyone working to bring economic development to the North Country." Grenier said as he called for Governor Sununu to take a more active role in addressing the real issues facing the North Country. This isn't valid. Not at all.   There are many strategies Berlin could pursue to create good jobs and economic development in Berlin and across the North Country. It's Grenier himself that isn't taking an active role. There are many strategies Berlin could pursue.   Several years ago there was a quality proposal to separate Berlin from the North Country Council regional planning agency and create it's own economic development district with it's own authority to advance federal grant programs, long-term regional planning and state loan guarantees. Th...