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Hooksett advisory committee pushes TIF Exit 10 outreach, plans public forums and business visits
Summary
Members discussed public education, business outreach and the timeline for a proposed tax-increment financing (TIF) program tied to Exit 10, including a Town 101 date, potential business commitments and how a public-private partnership would work under the town's TIF plan.
The Hooksett Economic Development Advisory Committee spent its regular meeting planning public outreach and business engagement ahead of a March vote on a proposed TIF district tied to Exit 10.
Committee members prioritized two concurrent tracks: public education for residents and direct outreach to major businesses in the Exit 10 area. Staff and committee members said they expect to present a finalized set of informational PowerPoint slides in October and to promote a Town 101 session scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 5:30 p.m. at the Hooksett Public Library, Village Depot, to explain governance and the budget process to residents.
Why it matters: committee members said voter understanding and visible private-sector support will be key if the town asks voters to approve TIF bonding in March. Committee members repeatedly emphasized speaking with store managers and local property owners so corporate headquarters will have information to evaluate later.
Committee members described a two-part outreach plan. One group will visit businesses (Jim Sullivan, Matt Barrett and Alden Bochman were identified as part of the outreach team) to solicit interest and gather specifics about expansion or sewer needs. Another team (Michelle Ganon, David Scarpetti, Jesse and the chair) will manage web and social messaging and coordinate Town 101 and follow-up forums. Members said draft flyers and a PowerPoint template were circulated at the meeting for use when they visit businesses.
Town administrator Andre (town administrator) explained how a public-private partnership used on an earlier project worked and how this TIF would be structured. He said typical TIF financing captures future tax increment to pay debt service on infrastructure; under the local public-private arrangement used previously, a private developer installed infrastructure and the town used captured increment to repay the developer rather than a bond bank. Andre said the Exit 10 plan previously contemplated a split in which roughly 60% of a project's seed funding would be public and 40% private, and that the town would not rebate taxes to businesses but instead use captured increment to fund infrastructure.
Committee members discussed several potential business targets for in-person outreach, including Walmart, Bass Pro and Market Basket. Members said septic-system constraints at Exit 10 are a frequent barrier to new restaurants and pad-site development and asked staff to compile building-file records showing ages and maintenance of septic systems so businesses can compare the long-term costs of sewer connections versus septic upkeep.
The committee discussed timing and follow-up events: members agreed to aim for finalized outreach materials at the October meeting and for a TIF-focused forum after Town 101, and they urged committee volunteers to begin store-level outreach in the coming weeks.
Votes at a glance: the committee approved the minutes from the Aug. 20 meeting earlier in the session and later voted to adjourn. (Motion texts and outcomes recorded in the meeting actions.)
Ending: committee members scheduled further work on the PowerPoint and flyer templates and planned to invite business representatives to the next meeting so developers and store managers can describe constraints and potential expansion plans.
