Berlin, New Hampshire

Investments to Leverage Development) – it’s a Federal Highway Administration grant program,” he explains. “It’s got to be transportation-related, which this is; it’s got to stimulate economic activity, which it will; and it needs to be innovative, which it is. The program is focused on rural areas and most communities in New Hampshire are considered rural areas. We are waiting for the next round of funding to be announced, it will be a long process but we are very excited about this project.” “The City Council saw the value in the Rte. 16 upgrade project and the river walk and have made the resources available to complete these important projects,” Wheeler adds. “They are also firmly behind the downtown reconstruction project which will include the snow melt system. We couldn’t ask for a more progressive City Council who has the community’s growth and well-being close at heart.” Pamela Laflamme, Berlin’s Community Development Director, believes that, going forward, it’s time for the City to adopt a more all-inclusive development and marketing strategy. “In the last two or three decades, the City has had many projects, but nothing comprehensive in terms of strategy,” she states. “We have an Economic Development Board, which goes by the acronym: BIDPA, the Berlin Industrial Development & Park Authority, because its original charge, when it was created in the 1970’s, was overseeing industrial growth, specifically in our industrial park. As the years have gone on, BIDPA has taken the charge for economic development for the whole City. “BIDPA has been looking at different areas of the City and getting input from local businesses, and they decided late last year that they wanted to hire a consultant that was familiar with small, rural economies like our own and to take a look at trends and make recommendations on what might be a good fit for our area. We want them to use data to support their ideas that could make sense for our community. This is a big undertaking for the City. We just hired a consultant and they will start work by holding a community forum. At the end of the process we are hoping to implement the strategies that are recommended that make the most sense for Berlin. Parallel to that, we’re getting ready to update our community Master Plan. There’s a lot going on in the Berlin around community and economic development. There are many people who are doing a deep dive into figuring out our new path forward in terms of what our economy will look like.” What seems most certain is that as it has done in the past, Berlin’s next economy will continue to make the most out of the City’s location, and the surrounding bounties of Mother Nature. “Berlin is a unique place,” says Wheeler. “It’s two-and-a- half hours from Boston; two-and-a-half to three hours from Montreal; a couple of hours to the seacoast, and we’re situated right adjacent to the Presidential Range in the White Mountains – Mt. Washington, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Adams. We live in a beautiful landscape. While Berlin is remote, the community offers so much in terms of the quality of life for the person who likes the outdoors, winter and all the activities that happen during the season. This is what we’re working to leverage, to attract those kinds of people who want to live, work and recreate in a place just like this.” KEY PARTNER n George E. Sansoucy, P.E., LLC gsansoucy@sansoucy.com