By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander spent Tuesday meeting with local officials, as well as businesses in the Connecticut River Valley, in an effort to talk about the work they are doing and how she can help them in their efforts.
Goodlander took a jaunt around the Granite State, starting in Claremont and making stops in Charlestown and Lebanon, before making her way to Concord and Nashua. She started her day meeting Mayor Dale Girard, Fire Chief Jim Chamberlain, Police Chief Brent Wilmot and members of city council for a morning discussion that she said was important for a number of reasons, which included recent news that President Donald Trump put a freeze on federal grants and loans.
“That was a really important conversation for a bunch of reasons,” Goodlander said. “The top priority was fielding questions from constituents all across New Hampshire, including Claremont, about the implications of the federal funding freeze directive.”
Goodlander was referring to a freeze on federal grants and loans that was announced by President Trump’s administration on Monday. The Associated Press reported on Tuesday night that a federal judge temporarily blocked the freeze, but there has been some confusion and panic for many about what this could mean.
Goodlander said the meeting was a chance to hear from local officials about just how important federal funding streams are to the future of the city.
“I have said this before, and I really do believe that Claremont is a comeback city,” Goodlander said. “This is an incredible team that I am really looking forward to working with in the days ahead and today was an important day for our cooperation and joint efforts.”
She then made her way to Whelen Engineering Company in Charlestown to highlight the importance of manufacturing in the Granite State. Whelen is one of the biggest economic drivers and sources of jobs in the Connecticut River Valley, and the company designs and manufacturers warning lights, sirens, controllers and more for automotive, aviation and mass notification industries, according to the company website.
Goodlander and her team rode over with Mayor Girard, who wears many hats in the community including being the owner of Golden Cross Ambulance Services and a newly elected state representative.
“Maggie has been a strong supporter of the Claremont region since before she was elected, as she came over to the area several times,” Girard said. “She is making it known that she will be here as an advocate, and that we have a voice in Congress.”
They sat down with Senior Vice President of Operations Brian Boardman, as well as GreenSource Fabrication Director of Strategic Growth Michael Gleason, where she heard about their operations.
“We really appreciate her visit over here,” Gleason said. “The interest in manufacturing is very important to us. Getting the message out there that you can have careers from beginning to end is huge, so having her support for growth and expansion, is appreciated.”
Goodlander serves on the House Committee on Small Businesses, as well as the House Armed Services Committee, and she noted that there is incredible manufacturing potential in New Hampshire.
“Whelen is a great example of a company we are really looking forward to partnering with,” Goodlander said. “We covered a wide range of joint areas of interests. Whelen is reaching out to communities in Charlestown, Claremont and the Sugar River region.”
Goodlander said there is the potential for apprenticeship programs to give young people visibility for different career paths. She also said issues discussed included the challenge of housing, childcare and transportation. One major topic that came up was the Route 12 bridge construction.
“Governing is a team effort and often some of the best outcomes come with partnerships with the private sector,” she said.
They finished the visit off with a tour of the production facilities, where Goodlander got a chance to meet with employees, talk about their work, and see up close how products like light fixtures for emergency vehicles are built.
After having lunch at The Barn in Claremont, where Goodlander enjoyed the Thanksgiving style sandwich known as “The Gobbler,” she made her way over to the downtown area of Claremont to meet with local business owners.
Goodlander was with Amy Bassett, who is the New Hampshire District Director at the U.S. Small Business Administration, and they were joined by members of the SCORE program and the Small Business Development Center Program.
“Ninety nine percent of businesses in New Hampshire are small businesses, and part of my job is to really understand the whole ecosystem in the ways that different businesses play roles in our lives,” Goodlander said.
They visited the Claremont Spice & Dry Goods, Putnam’s Colonial Florist and Golden Anchor Quilting, and Goodlander said it was a great chance for her to hear from the business owners about their unique stories and specific needs.
Goodlander admits that her learning curve is steep when it comes to spices, and she learns something new every time. Putnam’s Colonial Florist is under new ownership and is in the early stages of building a team, and at Golden Anchor Quilting, Goodlander said it is impressive to see what they are doing with their space. She loved to hear the stories that have emerged from each of the stores.
“These three businesses are really different in so many fundamental ways, different industries and different clients, but each has created an incredible community around them,” Goodlander said. “That is part of what is so powerful about small businesses in New Hampshire. It is more than just a business. These are communities that are changing lives for the better.”
Goodlander said having Mayor Girard join her throughout the day and then being able to meet with City Manager Yoshi Manale, was a great chance to get everyone together in real time to have a discussion.
“The more we can bring our state and federal partners together, the better,” Goodlander said. “We are putting ourselves in a better position to deliver for the people of Claremont.”