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

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
Curious how rural communities build thriving tourism and recreation economies? A multi-state research collaboration, including UNH Extension and partn... Learn More
Learning sessions help municipalities better engage community members
UNH Extension's Community and Economic Development team, in partnership with stateside organizations, has developed a five-year Digital Equity Plan to... Learn More

Events

No events scheduled

Resources

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
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
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
A vibrant community relies on several key components, including economic vitality, community health, natural resources and recreation, community engag... Learn More
Many communities have trails in close proximity to their downtowns/village centers/business districts. We share the opportunities and challenges of wo... Learn More