Contoocook Village Walk Audits with generous support from Background: In 2023, the Town of Hopkinton was awarded a Community Challenge "Capacity-Building Microgrant " to assess and enhance the safety and walkability of Contoocook Village using the Walk Audit Toolkit . Hopkinton Economic Development and Human Services jointly applied for this grant based on feedback from business owners, residents, and visitors in Contoocook Village who want the area to be more walkable, accessible, and safe to enable improved foot traffic to our shops, restaurants, and services. The Economic Development Committee presented the results of the Walk Audits at the July 22, 2024 Hopkinton Select Board meeting . Recommendation: The Economic Development Committee recommends formation of a working group or task force specifically charged with coordinating Contoocook Village improvements - including recommendations found in the report from UNH Cooperative Extension: Strengthening Connections: Downtowns and Trails - Hopkinton-Contoocook. View the PRESENTATION SLIDES here and the MEETING RECORDING on YouTube. The Walk Audits took place on: July 22, 2023, 9am August 19, 2023, 9a m Tuesday, September 12, 2023, 7:30am Tuesday, September 26, 2023, 3:00pm More details here... thanks to AARP for the spotlight! Photos from the Walk Audits AARP NH made these two videos for us - one before we completed the Walk Audits, and one after. VOICE OVER: Contoocook Village is a hub of activity! We have restaurants, shops, and services right in downtown, and a beautiful river with a dam and the oldest existing covered railroad bridge in the United States. Within about quarter mile we have an elementary school, our Middle and High School, the Town Library, recreation areas, the Community Center, and the only elderly affordable housing development in town. But the village is also dominated by cars, trucks, and wide expanses of pavement. Walking and rolling from place to place around Contoocook Village can be challenging and at times dangerous. There are very few crosswalks, and some sidewalks - but they are narrow, uneven, and crumbling, and in some areas blend right into the road. This project will bring attention to the social, economic, and health benefits of walkability, and help prioritize walkability in ongoing planning. Walk Audits are a wonderful tool to involve residents of all ages across the community to raise awareness of the economic, social, and health benefits of making our village more walkable and how to accomplish that. They will highlight possible solutions and help folks understand how good infrastructure and design can provide safe and accessible walking. These Walk Audits will provide data to the NH Department of Transportation and build community advocacy to prioritize walkability in NHDOT’s ongoing planning for these intersections. VOICE OVER: Welcome to the quant, historic, and picturesque Village of Contoocook, in Hopkinton, NH. This is truly the beating heart of our community. This is the retail and commercial hub, and within a short walk, you can reach two of our three school buildings, nearly all of the town’s recreational and sports facilities, the town library, community center, post office, and a growing and popular trail network. The scenic and protected Contoocook River runs directly through the center of the village. We have lovely shops and restaurants, owned and operated by creative and hard-working people, who are consistently making investments and improving their offerings. We love our little business community here! But one of their top concerns is safety and accessibility for their customers. The village is dominated by fast-moving cars, heavy trucking, and wide expanses of pavement. There are sidewalks through most of the village, but they are narrow, uneven, and crumbling, and in some areas blend right into the road. There are only a few crosswalks, but they have poor sight lines and hard to see. AARP’s Community Challenge Microgrant provided the Town of Hopkinton just the catalyst we needed to document the unique challenges to accessibility and walkability in our village. This summer and fall, Hopkinton’s Economic Development and Human Services groups hosted 4 Walk Audits, examining 4 different well-traveled routes throughout the village. Over 20 community members came out to help with this project. We gathered a lot of information and we are putting it together into a report that we will use to advocate for changes to making this village more walkable, more livable for folks of all ages in our community.

The vision and work of the Hopkinton Economic Development Committee. 2023 Business Survey Scroll Down

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Hopkinton-Contoocook Downtowns & Trails Project The Town of Hopkinton partnered in 2023 with UNH Cooperative Extension's Economic and Community Development team to learn about resident and visitor experiences in the Village of Contoocook and on local trails, and to better connect the trails (including the blue trail of the river ) with sustainable economic development goals. The project began with the Steering Committee conducting a spatial assessment - a cataloging of physical features present or lacking - and an open survey, followed by more in depth interviews with "Key Informants." THE REPORT IS OUT! Strengthening Connections: Downtowns & Trails - Hopkinton-Contoocook, 2023 UNH has published articles about the project: Collecting Data on Community Capital While Building Social Capital Community Engagement at Contoocook Farmers Market Want to learn more? Check out this great presentation ...featuring Hopkinton-Contoocook!

Curious about business incentives? Looking to relocate to Hopkinton? Have a new business idea? Start here! BUILD YOUR BUSINESS Opportunity grows here. Whether you're just starting out or you want to relocate an established business, Hopkinton welcomes you! Hopkinton is a great place to do business. Here's how we can help... Available Incentives: TIF Districts Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is a powerful economic development tool for funding improvements which support commercial development and has been used successfully in communities throughout New Hampshire. Such districts would allow the Town to use future tax revenue from increased assessments in a designated area to fund improvements in that area that are needed for economic development. More Info ERZs The Town of Hopkinton has created two (2) Economic Revitalization Zones, which allow the businesses within them to apply for a tax credit to the State of NH . The general goal is to encourage retention and growth of existing businesses and the reuse of existing buildings. More Info 79-E The Community Revitalization Tax Relief Incentive (RSA 79-E) Program allows the Town to provide a temporary period of limited tax relief for property owners who wish to undertake substantial rehabilitation of a qualifying structure which will provide at least one public benefit. More Info TIF Districts What is a TIF District ? Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is a method of financing of public improvements with the incremental taxes created by new construction, expansion, or renovation of property within a defined area of the community. This powerful tool for funding necessary infrastructure improvements has been used successfully in communities throughout New Hampshire. NH Office of Energy & Planning TIF Explanation Guide Where are Hopkinton's TIF Districts ? At Town Meeting in March 2018, Hopkinton voters established two (2) Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Districts. The Exit 6 TIF District encompasses the commercial area around Exit 6 on I-89 and runs abou t a mile along Maple Street. The Hart's Corner TIF District is located at the intersection of Routes 202/9 and Maple Street and runs about 3/4 mile along Maple Street. Hart's Corner TIF District Exit 6 TIF District What are the Rules? Some key provision are listed here, but you can review the entire statute, RSA 162-K for a full understanding. A municipality must first adopt the provision of RSA 162-K before creating a TIF. (Done at Town Meeting 2018) Following adoption of the provisions of the statute, the town may then establish one or more development districts. (Two created at Town Meeting 2018) For each district, the town must establish a Development Program including a Tax Increment Financing Plan which shall allocate use of tax increments for retirement of bonds and notes, operation, maintenance and improvements in the district and for general municipal purposes. Money raised within a district must be spent within that same district. TIF ERZ ERZs What is an ERZ ? The Town of Hopkinton has created two (2) Economic Revitalization Zones , which allow the businesses within them to apply for a tax cre dit to the State of NH. Business in these zones have the opportunity to reduce the Business Profits Tax and Business Enterpris e Tax if, during the calendar year, you added the equivalent of at least one full time job and made capital investments consisting of new construction, renovation, expansion, or new equipment. The DEADLINE to apply for this tax credit is YEARLY on FEBRUARY 10TH. More information from the State of NH: ERZ info at NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs ERZ info at NH Department of Revenue Administration application for business tax credit Hopkinton ERZ designation letter (required as part of the application) Full Application Packet: Is my business in an ERZ? The two (2) ERZs are located around E xit 6 area along Maple Street and just west of Contoocook Village along Pine Stre et and Bound Tree Road. Click on each map for more detail and a list of parcels in each zone: 79-E What & where is 79-E ? At its Town Meeting in 2009, The Town of Hopkinton adopted the Community Revitalization Tax Incentive Plan (also known as Chapter 79-E for its enabling RSA). The purpose of this le gislation is to encourage investment in central business districts, neighborhood business districts, downtowns, and village centers. The goal is to encoura ge the rehabilitation and active reuse of under-utilized buildings in order to promote strong local economies and smart, sustainable growth, as an alternative to sprawl. Hopkinton's 79-E Districts comprise all properties in Hopkinton Village and Contoocook Village that have a "village" zoning designation. Therefore, a property owner who wants to replace or substantially rehabilitate a building located in a designated district may apply to the local governing body for a period of temporary property tax relief. The temporary tax relief, if granted, would consist of a set period of time (between 1-5 years) during which the property tax on the structure would not increase as a result of its substantial rehabilitation. In exchange for the relief, the property owner grants a covenant ensuring there is a public benefit to the rehabilitation. Following expiration of the finite tax relief period, the structure would be taxed at its full market value taking into account the rehabilitation. The rehabilitation must cost at least 15% of the building’s pre-rehab assessed value, or $75,000, whichever is less. The rehabilitation is consistent with the municipality’s master plan or development regulations. Contoocook Village Ch 79-E Zone Hopkinton Village Ch 79-E Zone How to Apply Complete this application for tax relief to revitalize your building: Town of Hopkinton's Community Revitalization Tax Incentive Information & Ap plication Packet Questions? C ontact Hopkinton's Economic Development Director, Anna Wells: awells@hopkinton-nh.gov / 603-746-8264 More Info NH Preservation Alliance 79-E Resources Plymouth State University Report on 79-E: A Tool for Your Town: New Hampshire's Community Revitalization Tax Relief Incentive 2024 Municipal Guide to RSA 79-E (from NH Housing)

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Curious about business incentives? Looking to relocate to Hopkinton? Have a new business idea? Start here! BUILD YOUR BUSINESS Opportunity grows here. Whether you're just starting out or you want to relocate an established business, Hopkinton welcomes you! Hopkinton is a great place to do business. Here are a few ways we can help... Incentives & Zoning Establish Your Business in Hopkinton Resources for Businesses + Developers Infrastructure + Economic Incentives What & where are the TIF Districts ? Exit 6 TIF District Hart's Corner TIF District What & where are the ERZs ? Exit 6 ERZ Contoocook Village ERZ What & where is 79-E ? Contoocook Village 79-E Zone Hopkinton Village 79-E Zone Hopkinton+Contoocook Zoning Code In 2020, Hopkinton created the Commerce and Community Overlay District to provide an opportunity for a range of residential housing choices and small-scale neighborhood retail and services in a planned development that incorporates open space. Currently, the CCOD applies to properties located near the Henniker/Hopkinton Town Line along Maple Street (Route 127) and Route 202/9 (shown on Tax Map 210 as Lot 3 and Tax Map 211 as Lots 7, 8, 9 and 9.01). Table of Uses Dimensional and Density Requirements Zoning Map (current map coming soon) Online Property / Zoning Maps F ull Z oning Ordinance (2023) Commercial, Industrial, and Multi-Family Residential Districts : B-1 = commercial VB-1 = village commercial M-1 = industrial VM-1 = village industrial VR-1 = village high density residential R-1 = high density residential R-2 = medium density residential Affordable Housing Section Site Plan Review ( required for any expansion or change of use for non-residential or multifamily residential uses) To develop a business in Hopkinton, we encourage you to contact us at Town Hall. Economic Development Director, Anna Wells : (603)-746-8264 Planning Director, Karen Robertson : (603) 746-3170 We can assist you in determining which permits and approvals you will need and can direct you to the appropriate contact(s). You can also obtain information on specific properties from the Assessing Department at (603) 746-3170. Search for available Properties: Moody's CRE NNEREN How to get started: The Planning Process Businesses of any size and at any stage may find these resources helpful. LOCAL RESOURCES Hopkinton's Economic Development Committee Discover Contoocook (formerly the Contoocook Chamber of Commerce) Kearsarge Area Chamber of Commerce Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce Hopkinton's Community Profile Hopkinton Rotary Club SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES Small Business Administration - NH District American Independent Business Alliance Main Street America NH Community Loan Fund business loans and training STATE & REGIONAL RESOURCES Manufacturing Extension Partnership NH Tech Alliance UNH Agritourism Resources Business and Industry Association of NH Mentoring & Training Merrimack Valley SCORE NH Small Business Development Center UNH - CEO + Family Business Center Financing & Access to Capital NH Business Finance Authority NH Community Loan Fund Capital Regional Development Council (CRDC) State of New Hampshire NH Division of Economic Development NH Division of Travel + Tourism Development NH Small Business Development Center HOUSING RESOURCES InvestNH - Housing Program NH Housing Finance Authority For a list of the variety of existing businesses in Hopkinton + Village of Contoocook, see here .

Business owners and operators, we want to hear from YOU! Please take this survey so we can better support you. 2023 BUSINESS SURVEY Hopkinton + Contoocook Businesses: We wa nt to hear from YOU! Please complete survey below so we can better understand your needs and how to support you! The survey will take appro ximately 30 minutes to complete (you can start and return any time), it is best viewed on a computer or tablet (rather than a phone), and your in dividual responses will not be shared outside of the Economic Development Committee witho ut your express permission. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO BEGIN THE SURVEY THANK YOU! PREFER A PAPER SURVEY? QUESTIONS? Email Anna Wells , E conomic Development Director

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