Chamber Hosts Governor’s “State of the State” Luncheon

Concord, New Hampshire - Join your fellow businesses and community leaders for an overview by Governor Maggie Hassan on the current “State of the State” of New Hampshire. Governor Hassan will deliver her first annual update for the Chamber on the economic challenges and opportunities facing the state, especially as they relate to the business community, and will take questions from the audience. The event is presented by the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, March 27th from 11:45 am – 1:15 pm at the Grappone Conference Center, 70 Constitution Avenue, Concord. The cost is $25 for Chamber members and $35 for non-members, and includes a full lunch. The State of the State luncheon is generously sponsored by Lincoln Financial Group.

For more information or to register, please contact the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce at (603) 224-2508, info@concordnhchamber.com or visit www.concordnhchamber.com to register online.
 
The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to developing economic opportunities, a strong business climate and enhanced quality of life in its communities throughout the region.

Meat “Steakholders” to Gather for Inaugural New England Meat Conference

Producers, processors, and other meat professionals are invited to participate in two days of networking, education and celebration at the first ever New England Meat Conference, hosted at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, NH on March 22-23.  The goal of the conference is to enhance the production, processing, and marketing of sustainable, nutritious, humanely-raised, and delicious meat from New England farms.

In addition to a wide variety of educational sessions, the conference will feature live cutting demonstrations from Master Butchers Kari Underly, author of The Art of Beef Cutting, and Cole Ward of the Gourmet Butcher.  Speakers and panelists presenting at the conference are among the leading professionals in their field and this event will provide all stakeholders with the opportunity to come together to learn, collaborate, and network.  For producers, workshop topics will include heritage breeds, economics of grass fed beef, and working with distributors. For processors, topics will include processing equipment, value added meats, and training and managing labor. Everyone will benefit from sessions on financing, crisis management, and appropriately scaled technology.

On Friday evening, conference attendees and other local meat lovers will gather for a celebration of meat.  This Meat Ball will feature meat and other food from New England farms, as well as locally made products. The evening’s festivities will include a live performance from blue-grass/Americana string band, the Hickory Horned Devils, along with a special presentation by Ms. Underly. There will also be several awards for those recognized for excellence in their respective fields: producers, processors, and end buyer/food professionals. The Meat Ball kicks off at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, March 22nd and is open to all meat lovers!  However, space is limited. Ticket prices range from $25-$45.

This event is being organized by a steering committee representing meat producers, processors and service providers from across New England. Register for the conference, buy tickets to the Meat Ball, and get more information at: www.NewEnglandMeatConference.org or by contacting the event manager, Lori Walter at (603) 573-3306.

NH STATE FIRE MARSHAL WANTS YOU TO BE PREPARED FOR NEMO

Concord, New Hampshire - NH State Fire Marshal, J. William Degnan, reminds all citizens to be aware of the hazards of winter storms.  This particular winter storm is slated to hit the state hard with lots of snow and heavy winds.  There are things that you need to be aware of as the storm approaches.  “It is important for all of our citizens to be mindful of the hazards associated with powerful winter storms,” Degnan said.  Here are some helpful tips to make sure that you are prepared:

• Downed trees and wires. With the expected wind gusts anticipated with this winter storm, there is the potential for downed trees and wires.  Do not attempt to move or touch any downed wire.  Wait for your utility company to take care of the wire.

• Carbon Monoxide is Deadly.  With expected power outages to be a reality, many citizens will be using their portable generators for electricity.  Portable generators produce deadly carbon monoxide which is colorless and odorless.  Place generators at least ten feet away from your structure away from building openings and with the exhaust pointed away from the house.  All stationary generators are required to be installed at least five feet from combustible walls.  Check your carbon monoxide detector to make sure the batteries are fresh.  Do not connect your generator to your house electrical system by “back-wiring.” This creates a deadly electrocution hazard for utility workers and neighbors.

• Building Collapse Hazard.  For most of the state, we do not anticipate any hazards associated with heavy wet snow which can create a collapse hazard.  This storm, for the most part, is expected to contain light and fluffy snow.  In communities closer to the seacoast the water content of the snow might be slightly  higher.  Keep roofs clear from the ground using snow rakes.  The use of ladders to clear snow is dangerous and should be left to the professionals.

• Keep exits clear from drifting snow.  With the expected winds associated with Nemo, it is important to check for drifting snow up against exit doors.  Make sure that you always have the ability to open all your exits from your building.

• Drifting snow covering heating vents.  Many newer style furnaces and heating units are direct vent units where the termination of the exhaust vent is not required to go into a chimney but rather terminates directly outside the exterior wall of the home.  As such, these vents are subject to being covered by drifting snow, causing a back up of carbon monoxide.  Please make sure that vents are kept clear of drifting snow so that they can work properly.

Check on your neighbor.  Stay safe throughout the storm.  Don’t be a statistic. If you have an emergency, call 911.

Chamber hosting wide range of events in January/February 2013

DOWNTOWN CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Concord, New Hampshire - The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present a diverse offering of upcoming events for members and the general public:

Concord Young Professionals Networking at Evolution Rock + Fitness
Wednesday, January 16th, 5:30-7:30pm, Free. Register at www.concordypn.org
Evolution Rock + Fitness, 10 Langdon Street, Concord

Legal Breakfast Series: What to Expect During an OSHA Inspection
Presented by Attorney Jim Laboe
Wednesday, January 23rd, 8-9am, Free. Register at www.concordnhchamber.com
Hosted/Sponsored by Orr & Reno, PA, One Eagle Square, Concord

Tax Abatement Seminar for Commercial Property Owners
Thursday, January 24th, 8:30-11am, Free. Register at RSVP@Concord.McLane.com
Red River Theatres Screening Room, 11 South Main Street, Concord

“State of the City” Luncheon with Mayor Jim Bouley & City Manager Tom Aspell
Tuesday, February 5th, 11:45am-1:00pm, Register at www.concordnhchamber.com
The Holiday Inn, 172 North Main Street, Concord
$25 Members/$35 Non-Members (lunch included) Sponsored by Lincoln Financial Group

Member-Led Workshop: The Tools & Fuels for Professional Growth
Learn the FOUR-PLAY of business success…PLUS how to guarantee success for life!
Presented by Chuck Sink of Chuck Sink Link and Steve Gamlin of Inspired by Steve
Friday, February 15th, 11:30am-1:00pm, Free. Register at www.concordnhchamber.com
Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce Conference Room

State Budget Outlook Luncheon
Wednesday, February 20th, 11:45am-1:00pm, Register at www.concordnhchamber.com
Grappone Conference Center, 70 Constitution Avenue, Concord
$25 Members/$35 Non-Members (lunch included)

For more information about the Chamber, please visit www.concordnhchamber.com.

Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to developing economic opportunities, a strong business climate and enhanced quality of life in its communities throughout the region.

Five Year Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan Released

Concord, New Hampshire - The New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the Office of Energy and Planning (OEP) has released the 2013-2018 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). The State is required to produce a plan every five years to comply with National Park Service requirements to remain eligible to receive federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant funding.
“The SCORP is an excellent tool for the Division, other state agencies and local communities to use as a resource,” stated Phil Bryce, Director, New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation. “A tremendous amount of work went into the development of this document through outreach to state agencies, local government, and the general public.”

The 2013-2018 New Hampshire SCORP provides the outdoor recreation community with a proactive framework

New Members Invited to Open Sing for Songweavers

Concord, New Hampshire - Songweavers™, the popular a cappella women’s chorus at Concord Community Music School, invites new members to an Open Sing on Tuesday, January 8 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. or Wednesday, January 9 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. There are no auditions to join; women of all ages and musical experience are welcome.

Based on the belief that everyone can (and should) sing, the members of this chorus learn songs by ear in the African-American tradition; music-reading skills are not expected or required. Songweavers rehearse in two groups (Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings) and present an annual spring concert. Singers with young children are welcome to bring them to the Wednesday morning sessions. This year’s theme is “The Rhythm of Life.”

Peggo Horstmann Hodes (soprano), Songweavers director, holds master’s degrees in elementary education from Lesley College and vocal pedagogy from the New England Conservatory. Horstmann Hodes has been

Seabrook Siren Demonstration Set For Wednesday

Concord, New Hampshire - The Seabrook Station nuclear power plant, the State of New Hampshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts will conduct an audible demonstration Wednesday, Dec. 5, of the Public Alert and Notification System (PANS) sirens located within the 10-mile Seabrook Station Emergency Planning Zone.

All 121 PANS sirens will be sounded at 12:30 p.m. with a steady tone for 3-5 minutes. No public action is needed.

Ninety-four of the sirens are located in the 17 New Hampshire towns in the Seabrook Station EPZ. In the event of an emergency at Seabrook Station the sirens would alert people to tune to local radio or TV stations to get information and emergency instructions.

The siren demonstration is intended to increase public awareness of what the sirens sound like and what to do if they should be used in a real emergency. Detailed information on Seabrook emergency plans is available in the Seabrook Emergency Public Information Calendar that is distributed annually to all households and businesses in the EPZ.

Public Invited to Participate in Piano Workshop Week

Concord, New Hampshire - The public is invited to attend and participate in Concord Community Music School’s annual Piano Workshops Dec. 3-7, 2012, at the Music School, 23 Wall Street, Concord. The free workshops welcome all ages and musical abilities. In addition to workshops designed to explore a particular component of piano practice, many performance classes will be held throughout the week. Performance classes are conducted in a master class format, or “public lesson,” in which the teacher works with pre-selected performers on stage in a way designed to provide learning for the audience.

Observers are welcome at all workshops unless otherwise noted:

Monday, December 3

Rhythm Rondo (ages 7-9), 4 p.m.

Jacqueline Morin

Have fun with these rhythm games, which will reinforce your sense of a steady pulse and strengthen your listening skills and rhythmic expression.

Rhythm Rondo (ages 10-12) , 5 p.m.

Jacqueline Morin

Have fun with these rhythm games, which will reinforce your sense of a steady pulse and strengthen your listening skills and rhythmic expression.

Advanced Performance Workshop, 5 p.m.

Public Invited to Participate in Jazz Workshop Week

Concord, New Hampshire - The public is invited to attend and participate in Concord Community Music School’s annual Jazz Workshops Nov. 12-14, 2012, at the Music School, 23 Wall Street, Concord. The free workshops, which include jazz vocals, crossover stylings, percussion and improvisation, welcome all ages and musical abilities.

The Music School’s Jazz Workshop Week once again includes a three-day Beatles Orchestra experience, open to all instrumentalists. This year, the Beatles Orchestra will focus on recreating and adding to “A Hard Day’s Night” and will conclude with a recording session. The Beatles Orchestra invites classically trained musicians to play alongside their jazz and folk department friends.

State Beaches and Historic Sites Closed

Concord, New Hampshire –  The New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation has closed all seacoast state beaches and Historic Sites. The closure will remain in effect until at least tomorrow.

About the Division of Parks and Recreation
The New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation is comprised of the Parks Bureau, Bureau of Historic Sites, Bureau of Trails, and Cannon Mountain. They manage a multitude of properties, including state parks, beaches, campgrounds, historic sites, trails, waysides, and natural areas. The Division of Parks and Recreation is one of four divisions of the Department of Resources and Economic Development.  To learn more, visit www.nhstateparks.org or call 603/271-3556.

2013 Recreational Trails Program Grant Now Available

Concord, New Hampshire - The New Hampshire Bureau of Trails announces that the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant applications are now available. RTP is a competitive grant program that offers funding for quality public trail projects throughout New Hampshire.
         
Limited grants are available for motorized, non-motorized and diversified trails. Eligible projects include maintenance and restoration of existing trails, purchase and lease of trail construction and maintenance equipment, construction of new trails, development and rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities, trail linkages, and acquisition of easements or property for trails.  Applicants may be non-profit organizations, private groups or government entities.  Applications are due January 18, 2013. For an application and more information, visit the Partners & Community Resources page at www.nhtrails.org.
           
Funding for the Recreational Trail Program is generated from federal gas tax dollars paid on fuel purchases for off-highway recreational vehicles and snowmobiles. These funds are appropriated to the states by the Federal Highway Administration as authorized through the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (Map-21) Bill. The program in New Hampshire is administered by the Bureau of Trails.
           
The Bureau of Trails is one of four bureaus in the Division of Parks and Recreation.  The Division is comprised of the Parks Bureau, Bureau of Historic Sites, Bureau of Trails, and Cannon Mountain. The Division manages 92 properties, including state parks, beaches, campgrounds, historic sites, trails, waysides, and natural areas. The Division of Parks and Recreation is one of four divisions of the Department of Resources and Economic Development. To learn more, visit www.nhstateparks.org or call 603/271-3556.

Knight Kiplinger to speak at Chamber of Commerce’s 93rd Annual Dinner & Citizen of the Year Celebration

Concord, New Hampshire - The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce will celebrate its 93rd Annual Dinner on Monday, October 29, 2012 at 5:15pm at the Grappone Conference Center at 70 Constitution Avenue, Concord. The event features guest speaker, Knight Kiplinger of Kiplinger Financial, and the announcement of the Chamber’s esteemed Citizen of the Year Award. Citizens Bank is the Presenting Sponsor.

The evening begins with a cocktail reception at 5:15 pm. The dinner hour begins at 6:15pm and will include remarks from outgoing chair, Deane Morrison of Concord Hospital, and the Chamber’s incoming chair, Mary McLaughlin of TD Bank. The evening culminates in the presentation of the Chamber’s annual Citizen of the Year Award, the recipient of which is kept top secret until the final moments of the event.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKER: Knight A. Kiplinger is an economic journalist who heads the Kiplinger financial media company in Washington, D.C.  He serves as editor in chief of all its publications, including the weekly Kiplinger Letter, monthly Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine and daily Kiplinger.com. He writes a bimonthly column on financial matters in the magazine and also writes its monthly “Money & Ethics” feature.
Mr. Kiplinger is active in nonprofit governance and philanthropy, especially in the fields of secondary education, choral music, and historic preservation. He is a frequent guest on radio and TV programs (on NPR, CNN, Fox and CNBC, among others) and has appeared on “The Diane Rehm Show,” “The Charlie Rose Show,” “The Today Show,” “CBS This Morning,” and others. He is an occasional commentator on “Marketplace,” the daily business report heard on public radio stations nationwide. As a public speaker, Kiplinger frequently addresses audiences of corporate and civic leaders, on such topics as the economic outlook, politics, investing and ethical business management. The company he heads, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc., has been honored several times with national ethics awards for its progressive employee relations and business integrity. Kiplinger is the co-author and editor of several books, including World Boom Ahead,America in the Global ‘90s, The New American Boom, and Washington Now.

Cost is $75 per person or $560 for a table of 8. For more information or to register, please contact the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce at (603) 224-2508, info@concordnhchamber.com or visit www.concordnhchamber.com to register online.

The Roads to New Hampshire’s Future: What’s on the horizon?

Chamber Hosts Breakfast Forum in Concord on October 5th

Concord, New Hampshire - The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce invites members and the public to an informational breakfast forum, “The Roads to New Hampshire’s Future: What’s on the Horizon?” featuring guest speaker, NHDOT Commissioner, Christopher Clement. The event will be held Friday, October 5th from 7:30 to 9:00am at the Grappone Conference Center, 70 Commercial Street, Concord. The breakfast forum is generously sponsored by Nobis Engineering, Inc. Cost to attend is $20 for Chamber members and $30 for non-members, and includes a full breakfast.

Concord is strategically located at the intersections of I-93, 89 and 393/4, providing a unique economic advantage to our region. Mr. Clements will discuss the plan for New Hampshire’s road and bridge infrastructure, the state’s priorities, and what we can expect for I-93 improvements through Concord.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
As Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, Chris Clement oversees a $700 million transportation agency of over 1,600 employees with the daily mission of transportation excellence that enhances the quality of life in New Hampshire. Mr. Clement was sworn in as Commissioner of Transportation on September 14, 2011. He has an extensive leadership background in both the private and public sectors. He previously served as Deputy Commissioner of the NHDOT from July 2008 to February 2010. Prior to becoming NHDOT Commissioner, Chris Clement was the Director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Stimulus.

For more information or to register, please contact the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce at (603) 224-2508, info@concordnhchamber.com or visit www.concordnhchamber.com to register online.

New Study: Concord arts non-profits contribute $17 million to local economy each year, support hundreds of jobs

Concord, New Hampshire - A new Arts and Economic Prosperity survey finds that Concord region nonprofit arts and culture institutions  are a significant industry – one that generates more than  $17.7 million in economic activity each year. This spending – $10.8 million by nonprofit arts and cultural organizations and an additional $7 million in event-related spending by their audiences – supports 568 full time equivalent jobs, generates $12.9 million in household income to local residents and delivers $1.6 million in local and state government revenue.

“The study sends a strong signal that support for the arts both enhances quality of life and stimulates the local economy,” says Concord Chamber president Tim Sink. The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce partnered with the Washington-based Americans for the Arts to conduct the economic impact survey of nonprofit cultural institutions in the Concord area.

Fifteen Concord area nonprofit arts and cultural organizations participated in the survey, which measured the individual organizations’ direct spending and employment impact. In addition, nearly 600 audience-intercept surveys were collected from people attending cultural events, measuring spending on event-related activities such as meals, souvenirs, transportation and lodging.

“We believe that these numbers, while very significant, are very conservative and really just the tip of the iceberg,” says Byron Champlin, chairman of the Chamber’s Creative Concord Committee. “It is important to note that the survey only measured nonprofit arts and cultural institutions.  If we included the numbers from for profit cultural organizations and individual artists, these numbers would be even higher.”

Greater Concord was one of six regions in New Hampshire participating in the Arts and Economic Prosperity Survey. The New Hampshire State Council for the Arts measured results on a statewide basis and served as the convener between Americans for the Arts and the individual regions.

“It is important that we develop this baseline data on the impact of arts and cultural organizations on our economy.  We are now better able to measure future growth with reasonable points of comparison” says Sink.

For a copy of the full report, please visit www.concordnhchamber.com. For more information, please contact the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce at (603) 224-2508.

Labor Day Weekend Wraps Up Summer & Kicks Off Fall in New Hampshire

Concord, New Hampshire - The Labor Day Weekend in New Hampshire will be a busy one as many visitors and residents look to get one last beach or boating trip in before summer ends.  Visitation and spending are forecasted to be up this year over last year.

According to a report by the Institute for New Hampshire Studies, about 540,000 visitors will come from out-of-state, up by 1.5 percent over last year and are anticipated to spend about $76.5 million, up by 2 percent over last year.

“New Hampshire will be bustling with activities, from craft fairs and fireworks to farmer’s markets and concerts,” said Lori Harnois, Director of the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism.  “The Labor Day Weekend is our second busiest holiday weekend of the year after the 4th of July,” she added.

Most of the visitors for Labor Day weekend will be from traditionally important markets in New England, New York State, and eastern Canada.  Canadians will continue to visit New Hampshire at higher levels than last year due to tax-free shopping and new higher duty-free limits on purchases made in the United States.

ABOUT THE DIVISION OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
The Division of Travel and Tourism Development, as part of the New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development, works with the state’s seven travel regions to increase visitation, travel and visitor expenditures in order to expand business activity and employment throughout the state. The division is responsible for domestic and international advertising and public relations, literature publication and distribution, www.visitnh.gov administration, grant administration and research to monitor and measure the impact of travel and tourism to the state. For more information about New Hampshire tourism, call 603-271-2665 or visit www.visitnh.gov.