New Hampshire's Business News for June 30

A look at today's top business headlines, including: Merrimack residents still seek PFOA answers, PUC OKs Eversource rate hike, NH Home Builders executive steps down, Sununu votes to OK Planned Parenthood contract, Santander fails U.S. bank stress test

At Merrimack PFOA meeting, residents still looking for answers  State officials held a public meeting Wednesday evening in Merrimack to update residents on the steps they’re taking to address groundwater contamination linked to the Saint-Gobain plastics plant. – NH PUBLIC RADIO

PUC approves a rate increase for Eversource  As of July 1, the energy service rate will increase from the current rate of 9.99 cents per kilowatt hour to 10.95 cents per kwh. – NH UNION LEADER

Report: Eversource leads in energy efficiency  Possible state-mandated standards could add to clean energy use. – NH BUSINESS REVIEW

Housing market strong in Tri-City area  The Tri-City region including Dover, Rochester and Somersworth has been one of the strongest markets in the state in recent years. – FOSTER’S DAILY DEMOCRAT

Buck steps down as NH Home Builders Association exec  Two board members also leave amid financial troubles, declining membership. – NH BUSINESS REVIEW

NH’s construction unemployment rates drops in May  The unemployment rate in New Hampshire’s construction industry fell to 3.6 percent in May – 1.4 percent lower than it was in April and 2.3 percent lower than in May 2015. – NH BUSINESS REVIEW

Manchester-Nashua foreclosure rate falls in April  The foreclosure rate on home mortgages in the Manchester-Nashua area fell once again in April, according to data analytics firm CoreLogic. – NH BUSINESS REVIEW

Despite little benefit to city, Laconia keeps impact fees in place  The city council this week unanimously agreed to make no changes to the administration of impact fees, despite Mayor Ed Engler's suggestion that perhaps the program should be scuttled altogether. – THE LACONIA DAILY SUN

Boscawen denies two zoning variances for Dollar General, will consider two more  After hearing public testimony, taking a site walk and reviewing documents, members of the Boscawen zoning board denied a proposed Dollar General two of its five requested zoning variances. – CONCORD MONITOR

 ‘Public’ bank is a risk not worth taking  The NH House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee is currently considering potential legislation that would create a state-owned and -operated bank. – NH BUSINESS REVIEW

City to pay $63k LaconiaFest debt  As state and local law enforcement investigators continue to look into LaconiaFest, the city has decided to pay the bills incurred that were not paid by the festival’s promoters in order to meet the end of the fiscal year without the debt. – NH UNION LEADER

After contract dispute, Dartmouth-Hitchcock taking over care at NH Hospital  Despite some controversy over a contract, Dartmouth-Hitchcock officially takes over operations today at New Hampshire Hospital, the state’s only psychiatric hospital. – NH PUBLIC RADIO

NH Lottery says it's sold over $300m in tickets  The NH Lottery says it has sold over $300 million in tickets this year, breaking its all-time sales record. – NH PUBLIC RADIO

Executive Council reinstates Planned Parenthood contract; Sununu casts deciding vote  New Hampshire's Executive Council has approved state funding for Planned Parenthood. The 3-2 vote on a family planning contract comes ten months after the council rejected an almost identical contract by the same margin. – NH PUBLIC RADIO

Trump returns to NH amid reports Brown being vetted for VP  The presumptive Republican presidential nominee will be at the former Osram Sylvania building Manchester at 3:30, where he’s expected to deliver a speech focused on trade. – NH PUBLIC RADIO

Lewandowski loses $1.2 million book deal  Corey Lewandowski had a $1.2-million offer from HarperCollins to write a book chronicling his time running Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, but the publishing giant backed away from the deal amid concerns about Lewandowski’s nondisclosure agreement, according to two sources familiar with the talks. – POLITICO

Santander, Deutsche Bank: U.S. stress test repeat offenders  U.S. units of Deutsche Bank and Santander suffered the ignominy of failing U.S. stress tests yet again this year, less than a week after Britain's shocking vote to leave the European Union sent their investors running for cover. – REUTERS

Honeywell names Adamczyk to succeed Manchester native Cote as CEO in March  Honeywell International Inc. said David Cote will step down as chief executive officer at the end of March, paving the way for Chief Operating Officer Darius Adamczyk to succeed him. – NH UNION LEADER

Vt. retailers say GMO label law unclear  Vermont's first-in-the-nation law requiring labeling for genetically engineered foods goes into effect on Friday. – BURLINGTON FREE PRESS