Tracy Hutchins, Executive Director, Upper Valley Business Alliance (UVBA)
Tracy Hutchins
(picture for the UVBA web page)
From the UVBA web page:
MISSION of UVBA is To invigorate the economic health of the areas we serve, while contributing to the well-being of the Upper Valley.
OPERATING PRINCIPLES
- The Upper Valley Business Alliance represents 460 businesses strong located throughout the Upper Valley. Our mission is to serve as an advocate for our members large and small with local and state government and promote and seize opportunities to better the economic climate in our region.
- Encourage addressing regional issues by working closely with other Chambers, other organizations without duplicating efforts and Government agencies at local, regional and state levels.
- Support Environmental Stewardship by nurturing business and community relationships focused on sustainability initiatives, by engaging in civic dialogue, by incorporating environmental stewardship as a critical ingredient in the community’s enduring economic health.
Tracy began her talk by sharing the history of the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce which had a rich 104 year history; and the Hanover Chamber of Commerce which had a rich 71 year history. Tracy was the executive director of the Hanover Chamber of Commerce when both the Lebanon and Hanover Chambers began formal discussions about merging. The two boards met and established a new vision for one organization, to be called the Upper Valley Business Alliance. The combined organization now represent over 450 businesses in the Upper Valley (NH side of the Upper Valley).
Tracy then went on to talk about work of the UVBA.
- Upper Valley MedTech Collaborative. From the UVBA web page:
The mission of the Upper Valley Medtech Collaborative is to create a vibrant medtech community. We will do this by:
- Raising awareness of medtech activities within the Upper Valley
- Enabling collaboration among medtech innovators (through in-person meetings, social media and web).
- Broadening awareness of the Upper Valley medtech community beyond the Upper Valley to encourage investment, business creation, employee retention and workforce expansion.
- Providing educational opportunities for medtech employees in the Upper Valley.
The Upper Valley hosts a thriving medtech community where innovators can work with talented and motivated colleagues to develop new technologies and manage existing operations while supporting a workforce that appreciates the exceptional quality of life afforded residents of Vermont and New Hampshire
- Trailing Spouse — One barrier to recruiting individuals is finding employment for the "trailing spouse". Work is being done to develop strategies to help the "trailing spouse" find meaningful and appropriate employment based on their credentials.
- Upper Vallry Young Professionals — UVBA is working with Upper Valley Young Professionals. They asked to join UVBA, asked UVBA to sponsor them. Many of our companies want to attract new talent and these young persons are seeking ways to network. Tracy had assumed most of these individuals would be from the Upper Valley, but 60% of their members (about 45 in total number) have relocated here. Hearing what they are looking for and might help us understand how to attract other young people to this area. UVBA's goal is to be a resource for young adults in the Upper Valley region of VT/NH who are looking to expand their personal or professional networks. They want to create opportunities for young professionals to connect with one another and with their community.
- COVID — In March, everything changed; the business climate has changed dramatically. We’ve been doing lots of advocacy. I spend time working 1:1 with businesses. Restaurants, hotels, and retail are facing a situation never before seen. In 2008-9, that recession was deep, but it was gradual; COVID arrived overnight.
UVBA provides messaging for our members, and also, although UVBA is membership-based, UVBA is here to help all businesses in our area. Tracy take notes when the governor speaks and get the news out in our newsletter. The organization has been pushing messaging of Federal programs – how and where to apply. The Main Street Relief Fund deadline is tomorrow and UVBA has been working hard to make sure businesses find out and apply. They have been working with some lost applications, running some interference for those businesses to keep them from losing out.
UVBA also works with lawmakers: Tracy has given testimony to the House Ways and Means committee which proposes the NH biennial budget. NH, in 2021 wants to raise both the business profits and business enterprise taxes. NH has lost revenue from rooms and meals and other taxes. UVBA tried to urge the committee to consider that 2021 isn’t the year to increase taxes because businesses cannot absorb it. Another bill seeks to raise NH unemployment costs for employers; it would result in $100 more per week for unemployed workers, but would increase the cost to businesses.
QUESTIONS:
Paul Boucher – Recently NH Business Review and the Union Leader wrote about the effects of COVID on chambers of commerce what about you?
Tracy: Chambers are 501(c)6 organizations; we are tax-paying non-profits, not a charity. We have not been part of Federal relief programs. Some of us received emergency loan program funds through the Small Business Adminisytration. On Monday, we found out we were NOT eligible for state relief funds, not for any of the $1.2 Billion NH received from the CARES act. Chambers gathered together and learned today that the Governor wil allocate $2 million for the state chambers by contracting with us to perform some specific tasks, but we don’t quite know what it means yet. UVBA was well-supported when we started this year, but next year is looking very uncertain. Loss of membership dues and lack of events has increased stress on our future. We are excited that some help may be coming.
John Yacavone: We lost a few businesses in Lebanon and Hanover. What’s your understanding about the future – more losses?
Tracy: On the one hand, we’re somewhat lucky. The economy before the crisis was doing well in the UV. Some of the businesses we lost were in the works before COVID; I thought we’d lose more. I am concerned about the future – there are many businesses for whom this has been very, very tough. A lot will depend on consumer confidence about getting out among other people. Tourism is important in the UV – many visitors come through and I see that traffic diminishing.
Will Koppenheffer: My perception of Chambers of Commerce lobby on behalf of businesses. How are you planning to spend your share of the $1.2 M here in the Upper Valley?
Tracy: I can’t quite answer that yet. The governor says it won’t be a gift – he said he’d contract with us, perhaps some “data gathering, marketing,” and we don’t know what it means. As to lobbying – some chambers to have hired lobbyists; we have not, but we do advocate.
Will: NH has a squirrelly tax system, a variety of small taxes. Chambers of Commerce have advocated for lowering all taxes on businesses. The result of that is what we see all over the state = increased reliance on property taxes. Business advocacy is good for business, but not so good for property taxes.
Bruce Pacht: Thanks for the informative newsletter! I hope to apply for available not-for-profit funding for the Hanover Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society.
Paul Tierney: You could perform a great service for start-up businesses by looking at securities regulations in NH which are incredibly difficult and expensive to deal with. Current law seems to require $50-60,000 of outlay to put together a securities offering. It’s a big obstacle to setting up all kinds of businesses.
Tracy: Please send me information on this and I will follow up to learn more.