Skip to main content
  • City of PORTSMOUTH NH
  • Economic Development
A A A
Economic Development
  • Why Portsmouth? Back Copy Created with Sketch.
    • About Portsmouth
    • Quality of Life
    • Accessing Portsmouth
    • Accolades & Testimonials
    • Photo Galleries
  • News
  • Startup/Expand Back Copy Created with Sketch.
    • International Business
    • How to Start
    • Business Assistance
    • Financial Assistance
    • Business Retention and Expansion Program
  • Resources Back Copy Created with Sketch.
    • Economic Reports
    • Economic Data
    • Economic Revitalization Zones
  • Sister Cities
  • Contact Back Copy Created with Sketch.
    • Economic Development Commission
    • Economic Development Director
  • City of Portsmouth
  • Economic Development
  • Portsmouth Business Retention and Expansion Program

Portsmouth Business Retention and Expansion Program

In 2017, the City of Portsmouth undertook, with the help of almost a hundred volunteers and UNH experts, a huge business and economic development endeavor. A very large portion of local businesses were surveyed to get a pulse on their past, present, and future.

Currently, there is not a comprehensive way to gauge a business' status or the degree of satisfaction with the operating in the City. No way to know if that differs across business corridors, industries, sizes, or ages.  We have guesses regarding business climate, growth forecasts, top difficulties, etc, but nothing data driven.

With the help of volunteers, many businesses of all scopes and sizes were surveyed. The data was then sent to experts at UNH, anonymized, and analyzed. The results of which will help many organizations better serve our residents and businesses, plan for the future of Portsmouth based on real data, and quickly identify red flags which may come up during the interview process. 

A healthy local economy and an improved business climate are the goals of the Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) Visitation program. The program promotes job growth by helping communities identify the concerns and barriers to survival and growth facing local businesses. This approach focuses on existing businesses. Studies show that 40% to 80% of all new jobs are created by existing firms rather than by new business attraction. Furthermore, business attraction efforts are less likely to be successful if existing businesses are unhappy with the local business climate. The resulting report includes an overall summary, notes from the UNH faculty review, and survey results.

City of Portsmouth and EDC Report BR&E Survey Results
Business Retention & Employment Survey Summary Report (October 2022)
Business Retention and Expansion Program Final Report: October 2017
  • City of PORTSMOUTH Home >
City of Portsmouth Seal

Economic Development

Office
1 Junkins Avenue, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Hours

Monday 8 AM – 6 PM

Tuesday – Thursday 8 AM – 4:30 PM

Friday 8 AM – 1 PM

Phone
(603) 610-7220

Resources

  • Why Portsmouth?
  • Economic Reports
  • Contact
City of Portsmouth Seal

© 2023 - City of Portsmouth. All Rights Reserved.