ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

A fundamental purpose of economic development is to create jobs. Community economic development incorporates its values and desires of the community in its job creation process. In recent years, LRPC has increased its role and partnership with area economic development agencies and key state providers.

LRPC was a founding member of the Belknap Economic Development Council. LRPC also participates with Grafton County EDC, Wentworth EDC, as well as Main Street programs and the Franklin Business & Industrial Development Corporation. We routinely interact with state agencies such as NHCDFA and NHBEA, along with local chambers of commerce.

Our primary economic development services currently include the following: strategic planning, policy development, grant writing and administration, and special projects.

Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)

A Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is a broad-based, continuous planning process developed by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) that addresses the economic opportunities of a region. It successfully serves as a means to engage community leaders, leverage the involvement of the private sector, and establish a strategic blueprint for regional collaboration.

A CEDS plan documents all potential projects in the region that may be eligible for funding by the EDA and provides an opportunity to coordinate federal, state and local funding for economic development. EDA grants support programs to create or retain full-time permanent jobs, reduce unemployment and under-employment, and increase incomes in areas of economic distress.

2023 CEDS

Draft Update In Progress: View the Draft 2023 CEDS online using ArcGIS StoryMaps (draft August 2023). View the Draft 2023 CEDS as a pdf document.

Demographics, Industry & Employment, Housing, and Income Data: LRPC encompasses 31 municipalities across 4 counties (Belknap, Carroll, Grafton, and Merrimack) and is denoted as Region 2 on the state map that shows municipalities, counties, and planning regions. View Regional Map (by municipality and county)

LRPC further divides itself into four areas, Areas 1–4, corresponding to the four Area Commissioner positions that make up part of LRPC’s 12-member Executive Board. View LRPC Areas 1–4 Map (by municipality only)

Infographics showing Demographics, Employment, Housing, and Income data are available for each of the four LRPC Areas:
Area 1 Infographic, Area 2 Infographic 2, Area 3 Infographic, Area 4 Infographic.

LRPC Maps: Click on the map images below to open a PDF version of each map.

LRPC Areas 1–4 Map

Regional Map

Available on request:

2015 CEDS – Granite State Futures Chapters

2015 Lakes Region Plan – Economic Development
2015 Lakes Region Plan – Housing

2013 CEDS

2013 Lakes Region Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

Demographic Screening Tools (by town)

Climate and Economic Justice (explore the map)
https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/#10.09/43.7347/-71.1466

EPA’s Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool
https://ejscreen.epa.gov/mapper/

Get Your Project Fit for NBRC Funding Now

The Northern Borders Regional Commission SEID (State Economic Infrastructure and Development) program is a valuable investment source for good projects in eligible communities. But project development takes time and expertise. That is why New Hampshire Business and Economic Affairs (BEA) contracted with ADG of Concord to help eligible entities with turning their ideas into applications.

Do you have an idea for an economic, community or infrastructure project in one of the six eligible Northern Border Regional Commission counties in New Hampshire?

Start preparing your project now to apply for 2024 NBRC funding. NH BEA is offering free technical assistance to eligible projects.

NBRC funding is available to nonprofit and government entities in Coos, Carroll, Grafton, Belknap, Sullivan, and Cheshire Counties.

Technical assistance is provided by coaches experienced with NBRC applications and tailored to fit your needs, whether eligibility questions, budgets, narrative, or analysis.

Funding supports projects in infrastructure, tourism and recreation, business and workforce development, healthcare, telecommunications, and renewable energy.

Learn more about NBRC at nbrc.gov and register for assistance at NBRC-NH.

Click here to view the NBRC Grant Administration, Compliance and Monitoring Manual (updated February 2023).

New Hampshire Community Profiles

Profiles of New Hampshire’s 234 communities have been updated with new information provided by the communities. Updated demographic, income, housing, and commuting data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2016-2020 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates are included.

The New Hampshire Community Profiles can be found at https://www.nhes.nh.gov/elmi/products/cp/index.htm.

The profiles can also be found through GraniteStats, the Bureau’s labor market information system at https://www2.nhes.nh.gov/GraniteStats/index.jsp.

Toolsets

Headwaters Economics Toolset

We were recently introduced to the Headwaters Economics Toolset. Using these report generators you can download socioeconomic reports of communities, counties, & states, including aggregations and comparisons. The Economic Profile System (EPS) uses federal data sources, including the Bureaus of Economic Analysis, Census, & others. EPS is also known as the Human Dimensions Toolkit by the Forest Service. Try it for yourself by clicking here.

Noteworthy Information

Employment projections for New Hampshire’s nine planning regions by industry and occupation for 2014 through 2024 are now available. You can find this information by visiting the NH Employment Security Website or through NHetwork, the Economic and Labor Market Bureau’s information data system.

* * * *

The American Farmland Trust initiated/developed the process for methodology and procedures regarding Cost of Community Services Analyses back in the 80s. Eleven NH towns have been analyzed since that point.

Click here for more information about the Cost of Community Services Analyses

Click here for more information on the American Farmland Trust

Click here for the Farmland Information Center for NH

Resources

Bureau of Economic Analysis (http://www.bea.gov)
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) promotes a better understanding of the U.S economy by providing the most timely, relevant, and accurate economic data in an objective and cost-effective manner.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://www.bls.gov)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is the principal fact-finding agency for the federal Government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics.

U.S. Economic Development Administration (https://www.eda.gov)

The EDA, together with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (rd.usda.gov) has prepared a Resource Guide designed to help eliminate barriers and encourage collaboration among stakeholders. The Guide covers the areas of Planning and Technical Assistance, Infrastructure and High-Speed Internet Expansion, Entrepreneurship and Business Assistance, and Workforce Development and Livability.

Economic Development Capacity Index (https://disgeoportal.egs.anl.gov)
EDA and Argonne National Laboratory’s Economic Development Capacity Index tool provides a county-level assessment in five capacity areas (drawing, collectively, from 53 data points) with comparisons to every other county in the country, and is informative with regard to underlying conditions in support of economic development. Here you can create your own report of a county and state of interest EDCI Report Generator which will include the five capacity areas of human capital, financial, industry, infrastructure, and institution & partnerships.

Economy.com (http://www.economy.com)
A leading independent provider of economic, financial, and industry research, Their economic research and data are used by clients worldwide.

Economic & Policy Resources (http://www.epreconomics.com)
EPR is am applied economics firm. We provide our clients clarity and insight for confident decision-making for even the most daunting of questions and issues in today’s increasingly complex world. For more than 25 years, our professionals have worked tirelessly to become a trusted and objective provider of effective solutions through state-of-the-art, customized, and thoughtful research and analysis, EPR’s team of experienced professionals will equip you with the information you need to move forward on the right course.

New England Economic Indicators (https://www.bostonfed.org/p ublications/new-england-economic-indicators)
NEEI is a data resource produced by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and presents current and historical statistics on the economies of the six New England states, New England as a whole, and the United States. Data includes employment, unemployment, income, consumer prices. consumer confidence, real estate, and exports.

National Association for Business Economics (http://www.nabe.com)
NABE®I is an association of professionals who have an interest in business economics and who want to use the latest economic data and trends to enhance their ability to make sounds business decisions.

U.S Census Bureau (http://www.census.gov)
The Census Bureau’s Strategic Plan describes a common mission, identifies strategies to achieve the mission, and sets critical indicators of progress. Its website outlines the work of the Census Bureau on a variety of topics, offers several data profiles and maps, implements a host of surveys designed to collect and analyze social, economic, and geographical data, and provides a valuable resource library. The 2020 Census results are available here.

Plymouth State University Research Projects

Below are links to several research projects conducted by students at Plymouth State University in the Spring of 2018 regarding economics and demographics of the Lakes Region. This information is being shared with their permission.

The Rise of New Hampshire’s Population by Austin and Blackburn
Economic Analysis for Lakes Region Planning Commission by Botelho, Shea, and Ordway
Demographic Analysis for Lakes Region Planning Commission by Larocque et al
Economic Analysis for Lakes Region Planning Commission by Farrow, Valliere, and Ripkey
Lakes Presentation by Linnick, Merluzzi, and Gonnella
Demographic Analysis for Lakes Region Planning Commission by Belanger, Campbell, and Deconinck
Economic Analysis for Lakes Region Planning Commission by Maegan, Allison and Braedon
Why are there so many seasonal homes in New Hampshire? by Collin, Gaston, and Jeremiah
Economic Analysis for Lakes Region Planning Commission by Madej et al

Local Tax Incentive Programs for Economic Development

Economic Revitalization Zone Tax Credit
- This is a short-term business tax credit for projects that improve infrastructure and create jobs in designated areas of a municipality. Click here to visit the NH Economic Development page with more information on this tax credit, FAQs,and applications .
Tax Increment Financing
- This is a method of financing public improvements with the incremental taxes created by new construction, expansion, or renovation of property within a defined area of the community. Click here to visit the NH Office of Energy and Planning page for more information. Click here for the full text of the RSA 162.k statute.
Community Revitalization Tax Incentive
- This encourages investment in downtowns and village centers. It provides a tax incentive for the rehabilitation and active use of under-utilized commercial buildings and, in so doing, aims to promote strong local economies and smart, sustainable growth as an alternative to sprawl. The tax incentive must be adopted at the local level before it can be offered to property-owners. Click here to visit the NH Preservation Alliance site for more information.

Lakes Region Planning Commission

Planning Regionally - Growing Locally