AGP Executive Report

NH Agriculture: UNH Extension says 2023’s extreme wet weather crushed vegetable and fruit growers, with surveyed vegetable losses totaling $3.11M and the worst fruit crop damage in 50+ years after freezes. NH Energy/Industry: United Therapeutics bought the former Anheuser-Busch Merrimack brewery site for $47M, a nearly 300-acre industrial parcel expected to bring hundreds of jobs. NH Labor: NH Fiscal Policy Institute reports job growth improving since 2025, but wages still lag inflation and employment gains are uneven. NH Environment/Water: New Hampshire is set to receive another $7.3M from 3M tied to PFAS drinking-water settlements, feeding the state’s Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund. NH Tech/Privacy: A lawsuit alleges a New Hampshire housing authority used high-tech sensors in rentals as surveillance. NH Politics (Election): With Sept. 8 primaries near, coverage spotlights New Hampshire’s competitive Democratic Senate dynamics and crowded congressional races, including CD1 and CD2. National/Business: Planet Fitness shares fell after membership-growth concerns, as a securities-fraud class action was filed in the District of New Hampshire.

Industrial Leadership: Peckham Industries, with sites in Newport and Lyndonville, VT, named John R. Peckham interim CEO, replacing Damian J. Murphy, saying day-to-day operations and its growth plan will stay steady. Energy & Weather: A Labor Day forecast for New Hampshire calls for sunny 70s, then a cooler stretch with rain chances late Wednesday into Thursday. Local Industry Deal: United Therapeutics bought the former Anheuser-Busch brewery property in Merrimack for $47M, securing a nearly 300-acre industrial site and eyeing hundreds of jobs. Public Health & Water: New Hampshire received another $7.3M from 3M tied to PFAS “forever chemical” drinking-water settlements, bringing total collected funds past $43M. Workforce Watch: NH job growth improved in 2026, but a study flags wage growth lagging inflation and uneven gains. Affordability & Insurance: NH’s auto insurance model—no mandatory coverage, but strict financial responsibility after accidents—keeps it among the most affordable markets, according to a new insurance affordability ranking. Tech/Infrastructure Policy: A Hancock planning board rejected a cell tower proposal, with residents citing property-value impacts and concerns about broadband coverage. Safety & Crime: Lawrence-area fentanyl trafficking ended with two arrests and more than 1,225 grams seized after a chase. Business/Real Estate: A BBB Scam Tracker update put Milan among NH cities with scam reports in July, while a separate NH labor market and data-center debate continues to shape local planning.

NH Economy & Jobs: A new New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute study says employment is up (nonfarm jobs +1.1% in 2026 vs. 2025), but wages still lag inflation and unemployment claims remain a drag. Public Safety & Health: Lawrence police, with DEA help, ended a fentanyl trafficking case with two arrests and about 1,225 grams seized after a chase that crossed into Haverhill. Workforce & Pay: Sklar argues the federal minimum wage’s $7.25 level since 2009 is widening the affordability gap for workers. Cybersecurity for Utilities: NH DES says it hasn’t seen impacts from a recent multi-state water-system cyberattack wave, but warns systems are constantly probed and AI is raising the stakes for small operators. Energy & Grid Planning: Federal filings point to a potential 350-megawatt data-center connection study in Bow involving Eversource and Granite Shore Power. Local Business & Food Supply: A Concord farm says demand for local greens is surging as shoppers rethink lettuce after national recall fears. Community & Services: Raymond mourns Firefighter Eric Phillips, who died after a medical emergency during an active call. Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker data puts Milan among 44 NH cities tied for 23rd in July scam reports.

Cybersecurity for utilities: A New Hampshire DES-linked report highlights how cyberattacks on water systems are spreading nationwide, with NH operators saying systems are “always being probed” and AI is making threats harder to defend against. Energy & growth planning: Bow is in the spotlight again as FERC filings point to a preliminary study for connecting a 350-megawatt data center to the grid, with Eversource and Granite Shore Power tied to the next steps. Local development approvals: Enfield’s zoning board will revisit a wetland-crossing road request tied to a revised single-family subdivision plan after an earlier rejection. Infrastructure debate: Hampton and Seabrook are preparing to open a new bridge without overhead lighting, but officials are pushing for a workable lighting plan and maintenance agreement. NH politics with industry stakes: In the WMUR Democratic Senate debate, Chris Pappas and Karishma Manzur clashed on affordability and policy priorities, with Manzur’s messaging heavily focused on Israel and Pappas emphasizing cost pressures and NH-focused programs. Workforce & business leadership: Peckham Industries (with Vermont sites) named John R. Peckham interim CEO, signaling continuity as leadership transitions.

Cybersecurity for utilities: New Hampshire water systems are being probed constantly, and operators say AI is making cyber threats harder to defend against, even though DES says it’s not aware of impacts from a recent multi-state attack wave. Data center push in Bow: Federal filings and a consumer advocate’s post point to a potential 350-megawatt data center study tied to Eversource grid work, reigniting local debate over power, taxes, and growth. Local infrastructure fights: Hampton and Seabrook’s new bridge is set to open without overhead lights, with officials trying to negotiate who maintains them. Road and transit updates: I-89 Exit 20 southbound ramp closures are being extended into next week for paving, and crews are also reshaping traffic patterns around the interchange. Energy and costs: Labor Day gas prices are on track for records, with AAA citing the Iran-related oil shock as a key driver. Workforce and research: UNH deployed a cabled ocean observing system near the Isles of Shoals, funded by the Office of Naval Research, to boost real-time Gulf of Maine monitoring. Elections prep: Secretary of State David Scanlan is urging voters—especially first-timers—to confirm registration and bring acceptable photo ID to the Sept. 8 polls. Agriculture and food safety: A sprout recall expanded to a radish mix in limited lots after an earlier alfalfa-related outbreak investigation.

Data Center Policy: Gov. Kelly Ayotte is pushing for a statewide data center moratorium, with Bow’s proposed hyperscale project still driving local and statewide backlash over taxes, power demand, and permitting. Local Infrastructure: A bridge linking Hampton and Seabrook is set to open without overhead lights, but town officials are pressing for a compromise on who installs and maintains lighting. Energy & Costs: AAA says Labor Day gas prices are on track for record highs, tied to volatile crude oil costs amid the Iran conflict and Strait of Hormuz disruptions. Maritime Research: UNH deployed a cabled ocean observing system near the Isles of Shoals, funded by the Office of Naval Research, to deliver real-time coastal monitoring for the Gulf of Maine. Workplace Risk: New Hampshire approved a 2.9% average workers’ compensation rate cut for 2027, continuing a long streak of declining loss costs. Business Expansion: Caliber’s acquisition of Key Collision expands the company’s repair footprint across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Food Safety: A sprout recall tied to Everything Sprouts expanded again to include a radish mix in limited lots and locations.

Medical Breakthrough: A New Hampshire man, Tim Andrews, lived 271 days on a genetically modified pig kidney before switching to a human donor—an unprecedented “bridge” that could ease kidney shortages. Energy & Housing Costs: New Hampshire households are being urged to swap window units for heat pumps as summer heat rises; mini-split users report lower bills and funding may help cover upfront costs. Cybersecurity for Utilities: New Hampshire water systems face constant probing by hackers, and operators say AI is making threats harder—state officials say they’re not aware of recent NH impacts from a broader national wave. Local Politics & Affordability: In NH’s CD1 Democratic primary debates, candidates spar over Medicare for All, campaign money, and affordability, with housing and immigration also in the mix. Data Center Fight in Bow: Critics say state leadership is moving too slowly on a proposed 350-megawatt data center, arguing earlier policy changes opened the door for more projects. Gas Prices: AAA reports Labor Day gas prices are on track for a record as crude stays volatile. Business/Finance: Planet Fitness faces a securities fraud class action tied to low membership growth, with a Sept. 14 lead-plaintiff deadline.

AI & Data Centers in Bow: New Hampshire’s governor says she wants an AI data center moratorium in the next budget as Bow talks intensify around a proposed 350-megawatt facility, while critics argue the state’s leadership is moving too slowly and that prior policy changes opened the door for data centers. Energy & Power Grid: Granite Shore Power has filed with federal officials to study connecting a 350 MW project to Eversource, keeping the data-center question front and center for local and state officials. Workforce & Growth: A new state snapshot says NH life sciences is outpacing overall job growth, with core life sciences employers up sharply since 2019. Food Safety: FDA recalls expand for sprouts tied to a multi-state outbreak and for tofu and rice products over possible contamination, including distribution reaching New Hampshire. Local Business & Infrastructure: TDS Telecom completed its acquisition of Granite State Communications’ fiber and voice operations, expanding TDS’s NH footprint. Housing & Privacy: Tenants sue Concord Housing Authority over home surveillance devices, alleging privacy violations. Public Safety: An 8-year-old was hospitalized after a Manchester school bus crash; a fatal motorcycle crash shut down an I-93 ramp in Concord.

Housing & Cost of Living: A new ranking of housing costs puts New Hampshire at 15th nationally in 2026, with the state’s index at 116.5—another reminder that affordability pressure is still a major business and workforce issue. Local Housing Policy: New federal housing rules under the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act are expected to ease some red tape for developers in NH, including changes that could lower manufactured-home construction costs and expand supply. Manufacturing & Jobs: United Therapeutics bought the former Anheuser-Busch plant in Merrimack, signaling continued biotech growth in Southern NH. Workforce: NH’s labor market improved in early 2026—jobs and unemployment are moving in the right direction—but wage growth is lagging inflation, and risks remain. Energy & Infrastructure: A Bow data-center proposal tied to a potential 350 MW interconnection is reigniting debate over power availability and costs, with state leaders floating moratorium ideas. Public Safety & Courts: A new DEA lab opened in Londonderry to support regional drug investigations, while Thomson Reuters disclosed a breach affecting court case files in multiple states including NH. Food & Agriculture: Hannaford is expanding in-store farm stands with local growers, and the week also saw continued ripple effects from major food recalls.

Data Centers & Energy: Gov. Kelly Ayotte says she’ll push a multi-year moratorium on AI data centers in New Hampshire, citing energy limits and higher power costs, as Bow officials and filings point to a possible 350 MW hyperscale project tied to the former Merrimack Station and Eversource grid studies. Local Governance: Derry cut the ribbon on a 2.25 MW solar array on its capped landfill, aiming to save taxpayers about $4M over 25 years by sending power directly to the town. Workforce & Wages: The NH Fiscal Policy Institute reports job growth and unemployment below 3% in 2026, but warns wages are lagging inflation and some workers face longer unemployment spells. Housing & Rent Tech: A Portsmouth renter story highlights concerns that AI “revenue management” software can drive sharp rent swings, feeding calls for stronger rent-fixing limits. Food Supply Chain: Hannaford is bringing back in-store farm stands with local growers, while Hodo recalled 10,000+ cases of tofu over possible ink migration—another reminder of how fast risks can spread. Transportation Safety: A NH teen’s airport crash at Portsmouth International badly damaged a PlaneSense PC-12 after a high-speed escape. Agriculture: A Westminster, Vt. family farm earned top honors for four generations of farming, underscoring the region’s continuing farm-to-market push.

Collision Repair Consolidation: VIVE Collision bought Joe DiIorio Auto Body in Homestead, PA, adding its 80th location and more Northeast capacity. Food Safety & Supply Chain: FDA says a seed supplier tied to a 15-state sprout outbreak hasn’t answered recall requests, while Hodo recalled 10,000+ tofu cases over possible ink migration. NH Housing & Costs: New Hampshire renters are seeing sharp lease swings as some landlords use AI revenue software to set prices. Local Tax Fight: NH Democrats went to court to block a new GOP-backed school property tax cap ballot law. Workforce Development: Stay Work Play NH launched an NH Interns Program to help young people build careers and stay in-state. Water & Infrastructure: NH DES secured a $2M grant for Belmont’s Route 140 sewer line/force main replacement phase. Public Health: A Northeast Kingdom report highlights how specialist shortages and travel burdens keep care out of reach for rural patients. Community & Local Business: Clarena’s Coffee rolled out free local home delivery in the Lakes Region.

Healthcare Access: Northeast Kingdom patients say specialized care still means long drives and long waits, with distance and transportation costs hitting older adults and families hardest. Housing & Tech: A Portsmouth renter says AI “revenue management” software is driving sharply different lease prices, echoing DOJ scrutiny of algorithmic rent-setting. Workforce Development: UNH won a $250,000 FHWA grant to train highway construction workers, aiming to ease a regional labor shortage. Energy & Infrastructure: Encore Renewable Energy’s 2.25-MW solar array is now operating atop a capped Derry landfill, targeting major long-term electricity cost savings. Telecom Expansion: TDS completed its purchase of Granite State Communications’ fiber and voice operations, adding 11,000+ NH fiber addresses. Local Food Support: Cheshire County Conservation District is distributing $20 farmers market vouchers for veterans across multiple weekend markets. Public Safety/Transport: Work continues on the I-89 Exit 20 ramp in West Lebanon with holiday-weekend pauses, affecting Upper Valley commutes. Data Center Watch: Bow is in early talks for a potential large data center, drawing renewed calls for a NH moratorium. Food Recalls: Hodo recalled 10,000+ tofu cases in 29 states over possible ink migration from packaging.

Food Safety & Recalls: The FDA expanded its Lundberg Family Farms white jasmine rice recall to 13 states, warning of possible foreign material contamination; the company says no injuries were reported. Local Agriculture & Policy: New Hampshire farmers markets say sales are rising after the cyclospora outbreak, with advocates pushing policymakers to back regional producers and reduce consolidation risks tied to major suppliers. Broadband & Tech: Fidium says Ookla Speedtest Intelligence Q1–Q2 2026 results put it at the top statewide and across the Lakes Region for speed, reliability, latency, and gaming performance. Energy & Local Government: Belmont’s selectboard will review a solar pilot on Jamestown Road, aiming for energy savings and potential new tax revenue. Environment & Infrastructure: Alton reduced a temporary Wentworth Pond drawdown to 2.5 feet while DES staff assess options for repairing or replacing the Alton Power Dam. Construction & Business Climate: A vetoed NH 10-year transportation plan has drawn pushback from the construction industry over “affordability” funding choices and toll-related financing. AV/Manufacturing Expansion: INFiLED appointed UC Technology Partners as its Northeast representative firm, covering New Hampshire and surrounding states. Insurance Growth: Arbella opened its first New Hampshire commercial lines office in Bedford, signaling continued expansion in the state.

Food Safety: Lundberg Family Farms expanded its jasmine white rice recall to 13 states, now including New Hampshire, after reports of potential foreign material; the FDA classifies it as Class II and consumers are told not to eat affected 32-ounce bags (UPC 073416-040281; lots 260201MA/260202MA). Local Politics & Schools: Two New Hampshire parents sued to block a November ballot question on school budget caps under House Bill 1300, arguing the measure is unclear and seeking an emergency injunction. Housing & Permitting: Cities are increasingly using AI to speed housing approvals by catching incomplete applications, supported by a new federal Innovation Fund and HUD grants. Insurance & Business Growth: Arbella opened its first New Hampshire commercial lines office in Bedford, signaling continued expansion in the state. Energy & Industry: New Hampshire upgraded the Peirce Island commercial fishing pier in Portsmouth with federal and state funds, adding refrigerated bait storage and catch unloading equipment. Tech & Privacy: Florida ordered removal of automated license plate readers on state roads, citing misuse and surveillance concerns—New Hampshire is referenced as a model for faster data deletion. Real Estate Investment: TPG bought a Leominster, MA self-storage property for about $7.9M, reflecting continued investor appetite for storage even as occupancy softens.

Energy & Cost Pressure: A new push to “restore energy sanity” argues New Hampshire must break from utility-driven costs as electricity and fuel prices squeeze households and margins. Fuel Prices: GasBuddy reports Vermont averaging about $4.21/g and the U.S. about $4.01/g, with New Hampshire premium gas still hovering around the $5 mark. Business Expansion: Caliber Collision is entering New England via acquisition of Key Collision, adding Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont locations. Insurance: Arbella Insurance opens its first New Hampshire commercial lines office in Bedford, citing steady growth and local industry coverage. Public Safety (Road/Transport): Portsmouth International Airport faced chaos after a 17-year-old fleeing police crashed through a fence, hitting a parked plane and tractor; in Portland, a wrong-way crash on I-295 sent three to the hospital. Food Safety: The FDA expanded a Lundberg white jasmine rice recall to 27,000+ packages in 13 states, including New Hampshire, over possible foreign material. Local Governance/Politics: WMUR’s Sununu vs. Brown interview cycle turns into a debate-over-debates fight ahead of the Sept. 8 primary. Sports/Community: Millennium Running acquired the Reach the Beach Relay after unpaid bills forced the 2026 cancellation, with a 2027 return planned.

Aviation & Public Safety: A 17-year-old, Wyatt Seely of Rochester, allegedly drove a black Mustang through the perimeter fence at Portsmouth International Airport (Pease), striking an unoccupied plane and a tractor; he was charged after police say he fled while intoxicated and without headlights. Food Safety: The FDA expanded Lundberg Family Farms’ white jasmine rice recall to 54,648 pounds (27,324 two-pound packages) over possible foreign material contamination, affecting New Hampshire and 12 other states; consumers are told to check UPC 073416040281 and lot codes 260201MA/260202MA. Highway Safety: In Portland, Maine, an 88-year-old Nelson, NH man was blamed for a wrong-way head-on crash on I-295 that seriously injured three people; the incident closed lanes near Exit 8 for about two hours. Energy Costs: GasBuddy reports the lowest Rockingham County premium price hit $4.49/gallon in the week ending Aug. 22, while the statewide average sat around $5.03. Real Estate & Housing Data: ATTOM says the U.S. vacancy rate held at 1.3% in Q3, with “zombie” foreclosures down slightly to 3.3%.