On September 19th, local leaders gathered at Bellavance Beverage in Londonderry for the Greater Derry-Londonderry Chamber’s 2025 Economic Development Update. The event featured updates across key sectors—energy, housing, manufacturing, education, transportation, and more—offering a snapshot of where the region stands and what’s ahead.
Here are some highlights from the morning’s speakers:
Manufacturing
Tony Fernandez, President/ Center Director of NH Manufacturing Extension Partnership spoke about the importance of keeping our manufacturing sector competitive through innovation, technical support, and workforce development. As industries modernize, support for small and midsize manufacturers remains essential.
Energy
Michael Licata, Director of Government and Community Relations at Eversource Energy ,shared how grid modernization is top of mind. With more storms, more demand, and more renewables in the mix, Eversource is investing heavily in vegetation management and upgrading infrastructure. Costs are rising—especially due to supply chain issues—but there are more options now for customers to manage usage and energy bills.
Transportation
Tom Malafronte, Director of Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT), highlighted strong growth in passenger and cargo traffic. New routes are launching, including Fort Lauderdale and Raleigh-Durham, and MHT is now the third-largest cargo airport in New England. A new airport master plan is in the works, focusing on modernization and efficiency.
Finance & Small Business
Amy Bassett, NH District Director of the US Small Business Administration reported that lending is up—both in volume and value. SBA loans are helping businesses grow and invest in big ways. She also encouraged local businesses to connect with free SBA resources like the Small Business Development Center for counseling and support.
Healthcare
Dr. Michael Bergeron, Chief Medical Officer of Derry Medical Center emphasized the role healthcare plays in regional stability. He stressed the need for expanded services and stronger provider networks to meet growing demand and support a healthy workforce.
Workforce & Education
Mica Stark, President & CEO of NH College and University Council/ Executive Director of Education Alliance of NH. Along with Dr. William Nevious President of Pinkerton Academy’s Board of Directors, both spoke on education and workforce pipelines. The message was clear: aligning K–12, higher ed, and job training programs with today’s industry needs is critical for future growth.
Housing
Rob Dapice, Executive Director of NH Housing addressed one of the region’s biggest challenges—housing affordability. He called for more workforce housing options, zoning flexibility, and collaboration between municipalities and developers to meet growing demand.
TFMoran is proud to sponsor the Greater Derry-Londonderry Chamber of Commerce and support events like the 2025 Economic Development Update. Staying connected to our local communities is not only important to our team—it’s essential to the work we do. These conversations around infrastructure, housing, transportation, and economic growth help shape the future of our region, and we’re committed to being part of that progress. We look forward to continuing our involvement and supporting initiatives that strengthen New Hampshire’s communities.
