Monadnock Ledger-Transcript
Published: 6/12/2018 4:52:48 PM
Representatives from the state Department of Business and Economic Affairs will be giving a presentation about Antrim’s economic vitality on Thursday, June 14.
Antrim’s Planning Board will be hosting the workshop, an event that will start at 6 p.m.
Discussion topics include the current business climate, how to retain the town’s existing businesses, how to recruit new businesses, social media presence, the town website, and other creative ways to elevate the town’s brand.
Planning Board Chair Janet McEwen said over the years Antrim has lost some of its businesses. She pointed to an old coffee shop that used to be located near Edmunds’ Hardware and a restaurant that used to play blues music as two examples of businesses that once brought people into the heart of the downtown that are no longer open.
“We would like to have a stronger business space,” McEwen said in a recent interview.
Some of the spaces that were once used for commercial purposes are now residential spaces, she said, which makes the downtown area quieter. She said there has also been a recent trend toward smaller businesses and people working in their homes.
Even still, McEwen said, there are some vacant spaces available for rent on the main drag in Antrim, which she would like to see businesses to move into.
She said there are some incentives for starting a business in Antrim like the availability of high-speed internet, and its location on Route 202 and proximity to places like Hillsborough, Peterborough, and Keene.
McEwen said the event on Thursday will start a discussion about economic vitality in downtown Antrim. She said the event will be divided into two segments, the first that will include a presentation about the town’s vitality, and the second that will consist of a brainstorming session where attendees can weigh in on the issue of business development and economic vitality.
The event will be held in Antrim’s Little Town Hall, which is located at 66 Main Street.
To attend the event, contact the planning office at: 588-6785 ext: 246, or emailing: antrimplan2@tds.net.