Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for Southwest New Hampshire for Southwest New Hampshire June 2007 SWRPC Southwest Region Planning Commission 20 Central Square, 2nd Floor Keene, New Hampshire 03431 www.swrpc.org Prepared with the support of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration and other partners Acknowledgments The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for Southwest New Hampshire was funded by: • Economic Development Administration, US Department of Commerce • NH Department of Resources and Economic Development • NH Community Development Finance Authority • Public Service of New Hampshire • Monadnock Business Ventures • Monadnock Economic Development Corporation • Southwest Region Planning Commission The Southwest Region Planning Commission acknowledges the professional contributions of the members of the 2007 Economic Development Advisory Committee who served on the Comprehen- sive Economic Development Strategy Advisory Committee1: • Bob Baker, Co-Chair - Keene State College • Keith Thibault, Co-Chair - Southwestern Community Services • E. Thomas Dowling - Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce • Jack Dugan - Monadnock Economic Development Corporation • Bob Harcke - Hinsdale Industrial and Commercial Development Commission • Morris Klein - Town of Hinsdale • Denise Meadows – Monadnock Travel Council • Carol Ogilvie - Town of Peterborough • John M. Pratt - Town of Walpole • Bernard Schneckenburger - Town of Hancock • Ted Whippie - Town of Winchester • Ralph Wentworth - Town of Troy • Glenn Coppelman, Ex Officio - NH Community Development Finance Authority • James Robb, Ex Officio - NH Department of Resources and Economic Development 1 Since the inception of the CEDS, membership of the committee has changed. We appreciate the contributions made by both current and past committee members to this on-going effort. ii Table of Contents LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................................... V LIST OF FIGURES............................................................................................................................VI EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..............................................................................................................VII NEEDS DETERMINATION ................................................................................................................. VII CEDS PROCESS ............................................................................................................................... VII STATE OF THE REGION ANALYSIS.................................................................................................. VIII ACTION PLAN ................................................................................................................................. VIII Vision..........................................................................................................................................viii Goals, Objectives and Tasks.........................................................................................................ix Projects........................................................................................................................................xv Evaluation.................................................................................................................................xviii I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................1 1. PURPOSE .........................................................................................................................................1 2. SOUTHWEST REGION ......................................................................................................................1 II. CEDS PROCESS.............................................................................................................................3 1. ADVISORY COMMITTEE..................................................................................................................3 2. WORK PROGRAM............................................................................................................................3 3. PLANNING PROCESS .......................................................................................................................4 4. ORGANIZATIONAL AND MUNICIPAL REPRESENTATION.................................................................4 5. PROJECT FUNDING..........................................................................................................................6 6. SOUTHWEST REGION PLANNING COMMISSION (SWRPC).............................................................6 III. STATE OF THE REGION ...........................................................................................................7 1. BACKGROUND ...............................................................................................................................7 A. Historic Development Patterns .................................................................................................7 B. Population and Socio-Economic Conditions.............................................................................8 C. Education ................................................................................................................................17 D. Health Resources ....................................................................................................................20 F. Land Use .................................................................................................................................29 G. Infrastructure..........................................................................................................................35 H. Natural Resources...................................................................................................................42 2. REGIONAL ECONOMY.................................................................................................................43 A. Employment.............................................................................................................................43 B. Innovative Strengths................................................................................................................61 C. Employers................................................................................................................................64 D. Tourism ...................................................................................................................................67 E. Unemployment.........................................................................................................................69 F. Major Layoffs and Plant Closures ..........................................................................................72 G. Regional Economy Conclusions .............................................................................................74 3. EVALUATION OF REGIONAL ISSUES ..........................................................................................75 A. Strengths and Opportunities....................................................................................................75 B. Weaknesses and Threats..........................................................................................................76 C. Community Survey .................................................................................................................79 D. External Forces.......................................................................................................................79 E. Future Economic Development...............................................................................................79 F. Partners and Resources for Economic Development..............................................................83 iii 1. VISION STATEMENT......................................................................................................................88 2. GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND TASKS .................................................................................................89 V. ACTION PLAN .............................................................................................................................94 1. TASKS RANKING...........................................................................................................................94 2. PROJECT RANKING CRITERIA.......................................................................................................99 3. PRIORITY PROJECT LIST AND IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE.....................................................104 4. SHORT-TERM PRIORITY PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS ......................................................................108 VI. EVALUATION ..........................................................................................................................114 1. EVALUATION METHODOLOGY.................................................................................................114 2. EVALUATION OF CEDS IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS............................................................114 A. Levels of Participation ..........................................................................................................114 B. Data Development & Dissemination.....................................................................................115