Dover, New Hampshire

DOVER , NEW HAMPSHI RE to attract companies that would require fairly good credentials of the workers,” notes Barufaldi. “We were successful in going out and attracting a number of those businesses - engineering, technical, machining, design, that sort of thing.” He has seen, first-hand, the city’s renaissance over the past 11 years, recalling, “We initially started here with a bit of empty storefronts. Old textile mills in the midst of the city were also only 40-percent occupied.” With extensive renovations and upgrades, abandoned mills and tired storefronts were transformed into enticing, modern structures, accommodating new business ventures and contemporary apartment units. Dover now tempts the palate with 72 restaurants, 35 of which are downtown, that offer a world of flavors right at Dover’s doorstep. Barufaldi points out, “You can get any cuisine you want here and the quality is really good. We have a lot of local retailers – people come in for the restaurants and then stroll through the custom shops downtown. We now have a very vibrant downtown.” Cocheco Falls Millworks, that has long served as a central focus of the city, now houses about 800 office workers and 400 apartments. Development continues along the waterfront and the Cocheco River Walk, thanks to ongoing cooperation between the community’s public and private sectors, including the Office of Economic Development, the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce, and the Dover School System. Waterfront development will encompass about 32 acres and is expected to include a hotel and a park area with a kayak launch and boating amenities at a city infrastructure cost of $6 million. Refurbished downtown storefronts offer a mix of commercial/residential opportunities, again, enticing young newcomers with exciting social connections just steps from their homes. Many residential areas are near major highways and rail access. Residents of the state of New Hampshire do not pay personal income tax,