The USDA Rural Development program has funded projects in seven NH communities to improve their drinking water and wastewater systems. The total amount of grants and loans is now at $50 million statewide. This does not include large drinking and wastewater treatment projects funded through the EPA.

Towns funded include:
Farmington, Franconia, Franklin, North Conway, ...

The bottom line for the Federal Reserve Bank for the Boston region is businesses remain cautious. The 40 or so employers who participate in the Fed's quarterly impressionistic survey report that more business is being done but not very much.

In retail, November and December were generally positive with hints that shoppers are a bit more willing to spend on discretionary items. ...

Take 2005 out of the equation (when a change in bankruptcy law spurred a rush) and 2009 was one for the record books. 5,128 individuals and businesses ended up filing for bankruptcy during the year. Thanks to the New Hampshire Business Review for tracking the numbers. See their report here.

With commercial real estate as the lone hold out, most sectors in New England expect a recovery to take hold in 2010. At this moment though, here are signs of improvement but major doubts that they will last from one month to the next. Overall economic activity remains below what it was a year ago.

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