SHAHEEN: SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER WILL BE GOOD FOR JOBS, ECONOMY

(Raymond, NH) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) this morning joined members of New Hampshire’s congressional delegation as well as federal, state and local officials at a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating Southern New Hampshire’s new Regional Economic Development Center (REDC). Shaheen supported REDC’s grant application to the Economic Development Administration and in April of 2012 announced REDC’s selection for a $432,000 grant which made the new center possible.

“Southern New Hampshire’s new Regional Economic Development Center will be a great resource for small businesses in the region,” Shaheen said. “Small businesses are the backbone of New Hampshire’s economy and REDC will provide important tools to help them grow and create jobs.”

REDC provides small businesses with counseling, pre-loan packaging, assistance in finding a location, alternative financing and employee training. It also helps communities by providing them with guidance in planning and making infrastructure improvements, production of a comprehensive economic development strategy, assistance in determining eligibility for federal grants and hosting training seminars.

Shaheen has worked throughout her career to support small businesses in New Hampshire. Last year, the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee passed Shaheen’s bipartisan legislation to permanently reauthorize the SBA 504 refinance program, which supported nearly 500 loans for a total of $144 million dollars in New Hampshire in FY 2013 alone. She has also worked to promote manufacturing, exports and protect New Hampshire businesses from an online sales tax. Last year, Shaheen also helped break ground on the new Manchester Job Corps, which will train young people in New Hampshire for careers in the advanced manufacturing, construction, health care, homeland security, hospitality and information technology industries.