Belknap County Economic Development Council

Latest News


John Giere		Four Join BCEDC Board of Directors At its March 24^th annual meeting, the Belknap County Economic Development Council elected four Incorporators to its Board of Directors. Joining the Board for three-year terms are Lakes Region business leaders Randy Eifert, John P. Giere, and Sonya Misiaszek, along with State Representative Kate Miller, who has been elected for a one-year term. Randy Eifert is branch manager of the Court Street, Laconia office of Cross Insurance. Randy has 22 years of experience in the insurance and risk management field, including the past ten years in the Lakes Region, managing complex business accounts, high net-worth personal accounts, and offering risk management consulting services for a wide-array of clientele, including non-profit social service agencies, financial service firms, contractors, hospitality, and public entity clients. Randy has obtained the nationally recognized Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter, Associate in Risk Management, and Certified Insurance Counselor designations. A 2000 graduate of Leadership Lakes Region, he is active in serving the community. He is a past board chair and Volunteer of the Year for the Lakes Region United Way, a charter member of the Waukewan Watershed Advisory Committee, past president of the Bill Lamper Youth Baseball League, and he also coaches girls basketball and serves as a volunteer referee. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Bucknell University. He and his wife Julie and their two daughters reside in Meredith. John P. Giere, Esq. is managing partner of the law firm Wescott, Dyer, Fitzgerald & Nichols, PA, with which he has been associated since 1986. John's practice includes all areas of commercial and residential real estate transactions, business formations and commercial transactions, tax law, and planning, zoning, municipal law and development. John currently serves on the Board of Directors of Community Health & Hospice and recently served as Director and President of Ozanam Place, a non-profit transitional housing program. John served on the New Hampshire Bar Association Board of Governors from 1996 to 1998 and on the Association s Finance Committee from 1992 to 2002. He is a member of the New Hampshire Bar Association. Sonya L. Misiaszek AIA, a principal in the architectural firm Misiaszek Turpin PLLC of Laconia, has 16 years of professional experience, designing many award-winning projects throughout New Hampshire. A former president of the New Hampshire chapter of the American Institute of Architects, Sonya has participated in several community design charettes and often has provided her expertise to Laconia Main Street’s Design Committee. Misiaszek Turpin offers full architectural services, from conceptual design and contract documents to construction administration for municipal, institutional, and residential projects, as well as adaptive re-use and historic preservation. The firm’s design services are governed by environmental and construction sensitivity and an understanding of the context of site and community. Sonya and her husband Chad Monterose make their home in Laconia. Kate Miller was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 2008, representing District 3 (Meredith). She serves on the House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs Committee. A graduate of Stanford University, Kate began her political career on Capitol Hill answering mail in a Congressman’s office before becoming Press Secretary for the Senate Special Committee on Aging. She then spent several years in New York City, working as a freelance writer. Prior to her election to the New Hampshire General Court, Kate served on the boards of the New Hampshire Humane Society, the New Hampshire Music Festival, the John Warner Bank in Clinton, IL, and was a member of the Belknap County Citizens Council on Children and Families. She founded the Red Oak Montessori School in Franklin and is the mother of seven children, ages 15 to 23.

BCEDC John Thomas presented the 2009 Corporate Soul Award to Patrick's Pub & Eatery.		Patrick’s Pub Honored with Corporate Soul Award at March 24^th Annual Meeting Recognizing its deep commitment to the essence of community, Patrick’s Pub & Eatery was awarded the BCEDC’s 2009 Corporate Soul Award. A community business with a social conscience that tirelessly supports all those who have asked without seeking recognition in return, Patrick’s received numerous nominations. “The symbol of the Corporate Soul Award is the Endless Knot,” said Awards Committee chair John Thomas in making the presentation. “It symbolizes the nature of reality where everything is interrelated; having no beginning and no end, it represents the union of compassion and wisdom. This year’s recipient could not be more richly endowed with these virtues.” One nomination summarize eloquently the caliber of this year’s recipient: “Their selfless giving and corporate accommodation in helping their neighbors is exemplified in countless activities throughout the year. Through their fundraising efforts on behalf of victims of natural disasters, domestic abuse, or downward economies, they have redefined civic responsibility and human compassion by raising the bar for others to follow. The owners, the staff, and patrons have created an organizational culture which exceeds the expectation of being a good neighbor, taking it into the realm of corporate-social stewardship that others only talk about. To respond when asked is one level of needed support — and certainly we thank all our business and industry leaders for such assistance — but to continuously and constantly sustain the level of community engagement displayed by this business is nothing less than incredible.” Present at the BCEDC Annual Meeting to receive the award were Allen and Jennifer Beetle and Jeff and Wendy Beetle of Patrick’s Pub & Eatery of Gilford.

BCEDC Chairman Tom Garfield presented the 2009 Directors Award to Lakes Region Community College. Accepting the award was LRCC President Mark Edelstein.		BCEDC Directors’ Award Presented to Lakes Region Community College The BCEDC Directors’ Award, traditionally presented to a business in recognition of contributions made to the economic vitality of Belknap County, was awarded recently not a traditional commercial venture but to one with a long history as an economic driver for central New Hampshire. Over four decades, Lakes Region Community College has provided educational, career and workforce development for thousands of Lakes Region and state residents. It has become a hub for community forums, innovations in training, and excellence in instruction, with many of its faculty receiving state and national recognition for their efforts. The award was made during the March 24th annual meeting of the Belknap County Economic Development Council, held at the Inn at Church Landing, Meredith. More than 150 community and state leaders were present for meeting and awards ceremony. “As part of a reorganized state community college system, Lakes Region Community College is poised for expansion and development. Its administration, faculty and staff have gained the college increased visibility, community leadership, and respect throughout the region, the state, and beyond,” said BCEDC Chairman Tom Garfield in presenting the award to College President Mark Edelstein. “The residents of central New Hampshire are fortunate to have this incredible treasure right here in our own region and continuing to offer educational excellence and rapid response to the ever-changing economic needs of our region,” said Garfield continued. “The importance of this institution to the region’s future growth and development cannot be overemphasized.”

Peggy Selig, recipient of the 2009 Norman Marsh Award, is flanked by Jim and Mike Marsh, sons of the late Belknap County Commissioner for whom the award is named.		Peggy Selig Recognized with The Norman Marsh Award at Belknap County Economic Development Council Annual Meeting Laconia’s Adult Education Director, Peggy Selig, was honored at the Belknap County Development Council’s Annual Meeting for exceptional leadership in strengthening the fabric of the community, thereby enhancing the economic well-being of Belknap County and the Lakes Region. Named for the late Norman Marsh, a local businessman who served two decades as a Belknap County Commissioner, The Norman Marsh Award is presented annually to recognize an outstanding individual for leadership. Jim and Mike Marsh, the sons of Norman Marsh, assisted in presenting this year’s award. A resident of the Lakes Region for almost four decades, Peggy Selig has served as Laconia’s Adult Education director for 33 years. In that time, Peggy has designed, updated, recruited and scheduled as many as 120 individual courses annually for Lakes Region residents through her innovative evening school. Her selection of courses reflects her something-for-everyone approach, offering self-enrichment classes alongside hard skill, job training, employability classes. Her emphasis has always been on the adult learner and, often, that adult who, for whatever reason, never finished high school. Recognizing that one size does not fit all when it comes to high school education, she created a dual track leading to the same goal: GED classes as well as Laconia Academy, a fully accredited high school offering night classes and a longer enrollment commitment. These option removed barriers for the adult worker who must hold down a paying job while simultaneously striving for self-betterment through education. “It is difficult to find anyone who has not either taken a class, taught a class, or served on a committee with our recipient,” said BCEDC Director Dave Haley in making the presentation. “She is the yellow pages of Who’s Who in the Lakes Region, a community connector for meeting individuals’ needs, and a keen protagonist for promoting self-development and independence through education.” “Peggy is also adept at designing programs for evolving populations,” said Don Morrissey, one of several community leaders to nominate her. “When more than 400 non-English speaking refugees settled in the Lakes Region, she created English as a Second Language classes for these new residents to help them gain employment and ease their assimilation into a foreign culture.” Working with the Laconia Office of NH Employment Security, the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, Southern NH University, and Lakes Region Community College, Peggy helped design and implement The Adult Success Program (ASP) to take unemployed and under-employed residents who lack a high school diploma and help them enroll in classes to attain that diploma or GED certificate. Designed to improve the local economy by training and educating workers, The Adult Success Program has received two grants from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, as well as a BCEDC grant, in testimony to Peggy’s efforts and the positive economic outcomes those efforts produce. “Going well beyond the classroom and administrative domains of her position, Peggy Selig’s personal commitment and investment have helped to empower people with the tools, skills, and courage they need to lift themselves out of poverty and social isolation and into a new world filled with opportunity, experience, and lifelong choices,” said Alan Robichaud of Lakes Region United Way. “There is no other single person who has better led the crusade against ignorance, illiteracy, and poverty than Peggy Selig. Our community has been made better because of her efforts!” The late county commissioner Norm Marsh was fond of asking, “What have you done for Belknap County today?” Peggy Selig, a true leader and hero for the residents of the Lakes Region, certainly has done her share!

Belknap County Economic Development Council (BCEDC) To Celebrate 18 Years of Service at March 24^th Annual Meeting

Planning for the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Incorporators of the Belknap County Economic Development Council (BCEDC) is in full swing. This year’s celebration will be held on Wednesday, March 24th, at the Inn at Church Landing in Meredith. Starting at 4:15 p.m., registration and the traditional soup social kick off a festive early evening event that brings together more than 150 community leaders from across the region to celebrate achievements during a difficult year characterize by dogged determination, perseverance, and hard work.

The patronage of several local businesses has made the annual meeting accessible for many. Laconia Savings Bank has provided Gold Level sponsorship. The two Silver Level sponsors are Meredith Village Savings Bank and Community Partnerships for Affordable Healthcare, a partnership of Harvard Pilgrim HealthCare, New Hampshire Public Risk Management Exchange (Primex3), and LRGHealthcare. Bronze Level sponsors include Denoncourt, Waldron & Sullivan, PA, Franklin Savings Bank, Gunstock Mountain Resort, The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls, MetroCast, and Munsey & Brazil Insurance Agency. Additional assistance has been provided by General Linen Service and The Common Man Family of Restaurants. The Belknap County Economic Development Council is sincerely grateful to these sponsors for their generous support of this year’s annual meeting and their continued commitment to the Council’s mission.

At the meeting, Incorporators will hear the annual report of the Directors, elect Directors for the Board, and approve new community representatives to serve as Incorporators. BCEDC Chair Tom Garfield will serve as master of ceremonies. Several individuals and organizations will be surprised with awards and recognitions.

The Directors’ Award will be presented to a business or organization that has contributed to the economic vitality of the region. This year’s recipient will join a prestigious group of previous recipients that includes Lakes Region Linen, Meredith Village Savings Bank, Laconia Savings Bank, Meadowbrook Musical Arts Center, Gunstock Mountain Resort, LRGHealthcare, the banking industry of Belknap County, Eptam Plastics, The J. Jill Group, Hampshire Hospitality Holdings, and the Bahre Family of NH International Speedway.

The Norman Marsh Award, named in honor of the late County Commissioner and businessman, recognizes the work of an individual with a commitment to the region whose daily endeavors benefit its residents. Previous winners of the Norman Marsh Award include Jim Carroll, Alex Ray, Alan Robichaud, Bill and Erika Johnson, Mark Thurston, Tom Clairmont, Senator Carl Johnson, Judge Martin, and Chief Baker.

The Council’s coveted Corporate Soul Award was established to recognize the work of a corporation, either for-profit or nonprofit, with a deep commitment to the essence of community and which works to make a difference. Last year’s recipient was All Metals Industries, Inc. of Belmont. Others recognized since the award’s inception in 2000 are USDA Rural Development, Laconia Housing & Redevelopment Authority, The Taylor Community, Laconia Area Community Land Trust, Lakes Region United Way, Lakes Region Day Care, Lakes Region Conservation Trust, New Hampshire Employment Security, and the healthcare industry.

Following the awards presentation, Jennifer D. Boulanger, Executive Director of the BCEDC, and Kimon Koulet, Executive Director of the Lakes Region Planning Commission, will announce the approval and acceptance of the Lakes Region Plan for Sustainable Progress by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, which makes eligible for federal funding some of the projects identified during the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy process, conducted over the last two years and completed in 2009. A presentation and discussion will follow highlighting past project successes and showcasing those projects currently seeking funding or approval.

And, just for fun, for the first time this year, the Council will hold a raffle. One lucky ticket holder will win a two-night getaway to the new Common Man Inn in Claremont, located in tastefully renovated historic mill buildings on the banks of the Sugar River, along with a dining gift card, compliments of the Common Man Family of Restaurants.

Registration is required for the annual event. Anyone wishing to attend the Annual Meeting or learn more about any of the Council’s services should contact the Belknap County Economic Development Council at 524-3057.

Laconia City Manager Eileen Cabanel (second from left) and Mayor Michael Seymour (second from right) joined BCEDC Board officers Ed Engler, Secretary, Tom Garfield, Chair, and Sean Sullivan, Treasurer, to discuss economic development opportunities identified through the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and included in the Lakes Region Plan for Sustainable Progress, which has been approved by the U.S. EDA.

City Leaders Meet with BCEDC To Strategize Economic Development Funding

Laconia Mayor Michael Seymour and Laconia City Manager Eileen Cabanel recently met with the Belknap County Economic Development Council Board of Directors and the Executive Director of the Lakes Region Planning Commission to discuss federal funding available for some projects identified in the Lakes Region Plan for Sustainable Progress.

The Plan for Sustainable Progress consists of a review of Lakes Region infrastructure, an environmental profile, a special analysis of industry clusters, a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis, a demographics study, a definition of regional expectations, and project summaries and scoring. Several projects were identified as a result of a two-year Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) project.

A CEDS is a strategic, performance-based economic development plan that describes the process and projects that the CEDS committee has identified as significant for the region. It provides an opportunity to coordinate federal, state, and local funding. The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) requires a CEDS be completed in order for a region to apply for assistance under the EDA’s public works and economic adjustment programs. This CEDS was created to assist the EDA and the region in establishing general priorities for projects and investments.

For more information about the Lakes Region Plan for Sustainable Progress, please call the Council at 524-3057, e-mail info@bcedc.org, or visit www.lakesrpc.org/ceds. Information about EDA public works programs can be found at www.eda.gov.

Fae Kontje-Gibbs, Deanna O’Shaughnessy, and Tim Morgan of Chamberlain Spring, LLC with BCEDC’s Jennifer Boulanger, Melissa Gulbrandsen, Esq., and John Hall, Profile Bank.		New Business Springs Up in Alton Chamberlain Springs LLC, a natural spring water bottling company, has sprung up as Alton’s newest business. Located at the beautiful Sunny Slope Farm, the bottling operation is situated in an historic barn on Old Wolfeboro Road on 282 acres of pristine farmland, abundant with natural springs. Deanna O'Shaughnessy and Fae Kontje-Gibbs, the owners of Sunny Slope Farm, along with Deanna's partner Timothy Morgan, have worked since 2003 to finalize the approval and permit process and, most recently, to finance the purchase of equipment to begin bottling water from the property’s natural springs for sale to a local niche market. Having observed a shift by major water bottlers away from natural spring water to the treatment and bottling of tap water, CEO Deanna O'Shaughnessy and COO Tim Morgan saw an opportunity to provide locally grown and harvested spring water to New Hampshire consumers by bottling it themselves from their own protected source on their family farm in Alton. "Spring water" is a federal designation and must be determined by extensive analytical and hydrological testing. Chamberlain Springs spent four years and more than $1 million achieving their large groundwater extraction permit for spring water and, at this point in time, continues to be the last company to be granted such a permit by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. Chamberlain Springs’ spring water will be tested weekly so that it can be held to the highest standards for purity established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as well as state standards. "Nh2o, real New Hampshire spring water" will be bottled in 750 mL bottles, which will be available in glass and 100% recyclable PET to the restaurants, stores, and people of New Hampshire. There will be a self-serve fill/refill station located at the water barn on Sunny Slope Farm where "Nh2o" bottles or larger containers can be filled with spring water. Chamberlain Springs will also be providing private label bottling of their spring water for events, businesses, hotels and restaurants, as well as for organizations. Profile Bank has provided primary funding for the start-up operation, while Belknap County Economic Development Council was able to help with gap financing to allow the purchase of bottling equipment. For more information about Chamberlain Springs or to purchase Nh2o, please visit their website www.ChamberlainSpringsNh2o.com or contact Deanna O’Shaughnessy at 603-875-7562.

Executive Councilor Ray Burton congratulates the BCEDC's Jennifer Boulanger as Barnstead Selectman Gordon Bartlett and State Representative Eileen Swinford look on.

Town of Barnstead Wins Community Development Block Grant

On June 17, New Hampshire Governor John Lynch and the Executive Council approved a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant for the Town of Barnstead from the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority. The Belknap County Economic Development Council, a sub-recipient of the grant, will provide financing to Lakes Region Pellets, LLC, to redevelop the former TIMCO facilty in Barnstead.

A start-up manufacturer of wood pellets for both residential and commercial use, Lakes Region Pellets, LLC will use the loan to purchase equipment and hire workforce. More than 25 jobs eventually will be created through the project, ranging from direct labor to managerial positions, and at least 60% are expected to be filled by low- and moderate-income employees. In the first phase of the project, Lakes Region Pellets will produce four tons of wood pellets per hour. A large percentage of the raw materials will come from within a 50-mile radius of the property. The company expects to increase production to 10 tons of pellets per hour during the project's second phase, anticipate to begin in the fall.

Franklin Savings Bank President/CEO Jeff Savage welcomed Jennifer Boulanger, Executive Director of the BCEDC, to an informational meeting organized by Andre R. Bonte, Jr., Senior Vice President, Commercial Lending.

Franklin Savings Bank Partners with BCEDC to Enhance Economic Vitality

Proud to be a true community bank, Franklin Savings Bank actively partners with local organizations and activities through financial support and direct participation. A longtime investor in the Belknap County Economic Development Council, the bank has renewed its annual membership investment in support of the Council’s efforts to stimulate and enhance economic vitality in the Lakes Region. The Council’s Executive Director, Jennifer Boulanger, recently met with the bank’s commercial lending department to discuss the Belknap County Revolving Loan Fund program, which, working together with banking partners, provides gap financing to qualified county businesses.

Business owners interested in more information are encouraged to call the Council at 524-3057 or e-mail loans@bcedc.org.

Jennifer Boulanger, Executive Director of the BCEDC, reviews web pages with Board member and Marketing/Membership Chair, Dale Dormody

The Belknap County Economic Development Council (BCEDC) sub-committee for Marketing and Membership met recently under new chair, Dale Dormody. Dormody led the group through a review of the Council’s 2008 Strategic Plan which identified several marketing initiatives. Some have been implemented already, and the group is moving forward to complete the tasks identified. One of the more significant initiatives is an upgrade to the BCEDC website, www.bcedc.org. That project will be tackled simultaneously with a second key initiative, publicizing the BCEDC’s services, especially the Revolving Loan Fund which has $655,000 available to lend to qualified county businesses. Business owners interested in more information are urged to call the Council at 524-3057 or e-mail info@bcedc.org.