The 2021 BIA Forum on Workforce Housing: New Hampshire's Housing Crisis and the Economy is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 6. The event, sponsored by the New Hampshire Housing, will be held in-person from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown Hotel. 

The lack of a diversified housing stock with more affordable options for workers remains one of New Hampshire’s biggest challenges, if not its biggest one, and it threatens the Granite State’s economic growth. The Business and Industry Association, New Hampshire’s statewide chamber of commerce and leading business advocate, ranks the need for more workforce housing among its top issues.

“BIA members, including chambers of commerce, across the state put the housing crisis among the most pressing issues in New Hampshire,” said BIA Interim President David Juvet. “The difficulty in securing workers for open positions is directly tied to the lack of adequate housing options in the state for working people. The lack of housing is restraining economic development in New Hampshire.”

A panel of experts will discuss the impact of housing on hiring; how cost and availability of housing affects working professionals' decisions on where to live; and how communities are planning for their future housing needs. The panel will discuss practical options for how employers, housing advocates and community planners can increase the availability of workforce housing in their communities. Panelists include:

David Duncan, Vice President, Facilities Management, Dartmouth Hitchcock

Bill Weidacher, N.H. Association of Realtors

Greg Michael, Chair, State of New Hampshire Housing Appeals Board

Rob Dapice, Managing Director, Management & Development, New Hampshire Housing

Event partners include Housing Action NH, the N.H. Association of Realtors, N.H. Automobile Dealers Association, N.H. Lodging and Restaurant Association, Vital Communities and the Workforce Housing Coalition of the Greater Seacoast.

Cost to attend the luncheon program is $40 for BIA and BIA Capitol Connect members, members of partnering organizations and regional housing coalitions. Cost for the general public is $55. Members of the media can attend at no cost and should email Rick Fabrizio for details. For more information and to register, visit https://bit.ly/BIA-Housing.