Economic Development

  • Exeter NH waterfront

Strengthening Local and Regional Economies


Cooperative Extension helps to strengthen local and regional economies by providing communities and organizations with programs and educational resources aimed at growing and sustaining existing businesses, cultivating an entrepreneurial ecosystem, enhancing Main Street, supporting diverse housing, enhancing the quality of life, and building community vibrancy. 


Community Business Engagement

Building the local economy by identifying and addressing the needs, challenges and opportunities of business.

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Business and Entrepreneurship

Bringing best practices and guidance for steps that communities can take to become friendly to entrepreneurs and innovators.

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Owners of Burnt Timber Tavern

Main Street Revitalization and Resiliency

Innovative programs for local leadership to look at assets, create a vision and focus on strengthening place. 

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Studley's Florist in Rochester NH

Workforce Development

Research and programs that bring to light workforce needs and opportunities within communities. 

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Articles

Barrington’s Town Center Day marked a vibrant start to autumn, bringing residents together for a walkable celebration of community, connection, and vi... Learn More
During the NETtra Tourism Conference in Meredith, UNH Extension hosted a mobile workshop at the Squam Lakes Association in Holderness, NH, where parti... Learn More
A Student’s Reflections from the 2025 NETtra Tourism Conference
Sophomore Cecilia Martinez shares a heartfelt reflection on attending the 2025 NETtra Tourism Conference in Meredith, NH, where she found both profess... Learn More
Once a struggling mill town, Franklin, New Hampshire has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade, thanks in large part to the Frank... Learn More
Municipal boards play a vital role in our communities. They influence everything from our local budgets and school curricula to land use planning and ... Learn More
Community Business Engagement in Exeter
The Town of Exeter partnered with UNH Extension on a Community Business Engagement program, which helps cities and towns understand needs, challenges ... Learn More

Events

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Resources

Volunteer boards and committees are the backbone of local governance in New Hampshire, but many communities struggle to consistently recruit and retai... Learn More
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
Community events play a crucial role in fostering social capital, which is essential for community development. Social capital refers to the networks,... 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