Community & Economic Development

Community & Economic Development
Waterfront view of downtown Exeter New Hamsphire

Building Local Strengths

Our team helps New Hampshire communities, like yours, learn how to assess community needs, engage residents and businesses, make informed decisions, develop effective strategies and take action. The results, which include vibrant downtowns, a greater pride of place among residents and increased tourism, are creating a stronger New Hampshire for everyone.

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Community Leadership

Helping citizen groups stay focused, work together and take action that benefits their communities.

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Economic Development

Working communities to strengthen local businesses, promote entrepreneurship, build local leadership and a skilled workforce, and improve quality of life for all in ways that are sustainable and promote resiliency.

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Tourism, Outdoor Recreation & Nature Economy

We work with communities to leverage their natural and cultural resources to create resilient and sustainable economies that highlight the state's diverse natural resources and unique quality of life.  

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Community & Economic Development Newsletter

Subscribe to our monthly email newsletter that includes information about New Hampshire community and economic development programs, workshops, events and resources. Subscribe

 

Articles

Nate Bernitz, Sue Cagle and Becky Levy standing in front of a presentatin screen at the NH Municipal Association conference
Crafting Creative Solutions Through Conflict: Insights from the NHMA Conference
On October 30 and 31, UNH Extension Community & Economic Development field specialists Nate Bernitz, Rebecca Levy, and Sue Cagle attended the annual N... Learn More
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Effective Business Engagement Strategies for Communities: Webinar Recap
In our recent webinar on Business Engagement Strategies for Communities, we delved into the best practices for business retention and expansion (BR&E)... Learn More
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UNH Extension Goes (Almost) Undercover as Tourists in West Virginia
Curious how rural communities build thriving tourism and recreation economies? A multi-state research collaboration, including UNH Extension and partn... Learn More
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Events

Resources

Several hundred marathon runners passing under the start banner hung over a wide street
Fostering Social Capital Through Community Events
Community events play a crucial role in fostering social capital, which is essential for community development. Social capital refers to the networks,... Learn More
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Understanding Public Trust at the Local Level
Imagine what’s possible in a community where there is a high level of mutual trust between residents and their local government. This information bri... Learn More
Downtowns and Trails 5 year evaluation report cover
Downtowns & Trails 5 Year Evaluation Report
This report provides an in-depth look a the program's journey, the valuable assets each community discovered, the opportunities that emerged, and... Learn More
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What is dot voting?
Dot voting is a technique for semi-anonymous voting. Participants are given sets of colored sticky dots, which adhere to a variety of surfaces where a... Learn More
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10 Components of Vibrant Communities
A vibrant community relies on several key components, including economic vitality, community health, natural resources and recreation, community engag... Learn More

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