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Latest News
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Reduce Energy Costs with USDA Rural Development Grant and Loan Guarantee Fund
Not only is energy conservation and renewable energy production good for the environment, it saves businesses money. If you own a business and would like to share in that cost savings, call USDA Rural Development and ask about the Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency Program.
In Fiscal year 2007, 345 energy projects in 37 states across the USA were selected to receive a total of $18.2 million from this program. Thirty Vermont and New Hampshire agricultural producers and rural small businesses received nearly $4.2 million in grant and guaranteed loan funds from the energy program in the last two years. Many of these energy projects will repay the capital investment through energy cost savings in just a few years.
Grant and Loan Guarantee funds are available to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy costs and consumption by subsidizing energy efficiency improvements, as well as renewable energy production from wind, solar, biomass, or geothermal sources. Grant funds up to 25% of project costs are available, capped at $500,000 for renewable energy projects and $250,000 for energy efficiency projects. Guaranteed loans and combination funding packages are also available. In addition to Federal funding, several local and state programs offer additional complementary funding for energy projects.
Call now! New Hampshire businesses interested in learning more about the opportunity to reduce energy consumption, cut costs, and/or produce renewable energy should contact USDA Rural Development in Concord, NH at 603-223-6045, or visit the website at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/vt.
For the full text of this story, click here.
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Belknap County Economic Development Council To Hold Annual Meeting
The Belknap County Economic Development Council will hold its Annual Meeting on Thurday, March 27, at Church Landing in Meredith, NH. The event begins at 4:15 p.m. with registration and a soup social, followed by business meeting and election of Incorporators and Board of Directors, awards presentation, overview of the on-going Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy process, and a review of the region's economic progress in 2007.
The BCEDC honors individuals and organizations that have contributed to the economic vitality of the region with three coveted awards: The Norman Marsh Award, the Corporate Soul Award, and the Directors Award. Information about the awards is posted at http://www.bcedc.org/about_awards_2.asp.
For more information about the BCEDC Annual Meeting, please contact the Council at 603-524-3057.
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Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce and BCEDC To Host Quarterly Business Information Workshops
The Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the Belknap County Economic Development Council to host four workshops in a series called "Adventures in a Flat World: Navigating the New Business Terrain." The quarterly series is sponsored by TD BANKNORTH.
The first workshop, called "Meet Your State Resource Partners," will be held March 13; participants will meet and hear Commission George Bald of the State of NH DRED, Michael Vlachich, Director of the Business Resource Center, and Executor Councilor Ray Burton who will provide valuable information to businesses on state services available to assist businesses. Subsequent workshops will be held as follows:
June 12th — Government Procurement
• How to get on the list • How to do business with local government agencies
September 11th — International Business: A Global Economy
• NH International Trade Resource Center — Exporting
• TD Banknorth International Department — Importing
December 11th — Economic Outlook
• Macro New England
• Micro Lakes Region
Seating is limited at these workshops and interested participants are urged to pre-register. The cost $10 per person, per session — $30 for all four sessions. To register and for more information, contact Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, 383 South Main Street, Laconia, NH 03246 or call 603-524-5531, fax 603-524-5534, or visit www.laconia-weirs.org.
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Boulanger Named Head of Belknap County Economic Development Council
Jennifer Boulanger was named Executive Director of the regional development corporation in April 2007. Boulanger succeeds Eliza Leadbeater, who retired in 2007 after 15 years of service. For the full text of this story, click here.
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Eliza Leadbeater One of Six Winners of New Hampshire Business Review’s 2007 Outstanding Women in Business Awards
By Cindy Kibbe, New Hampshire Business Review
February 16, 2007
Photo by John Hession
To say that Eliza Leadbeater embodies the heart and soul of the Lakes Region might sound like a grandiose statement, but when one gets to know and understand just what she has done for the 11 communities in the area, the description becomes much more apt. For the full text of this story, please click here.
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