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Special Board of Aldermen 09-28-2020 Page 16

very successful. So | think that’s where they tie together. And to make one successful to make the other
successful | think is what they are striving to achieve with this Legislation.

Mayor Donchess

Mr. Chair, could | add to that just a little bit?
Chairman Dowd

Mayor, go ahead.

Mayor Donchess

Yes, so we have said from the beginning that the Performing Arts Center would attract private development
and, in fact, it has already done that. The Developer said that the reason he decided to go forward with
this is because of the Performing Arts Center being close by. And to demonstrate the point that private
investment will ultimately pay for the Performing Arts Center, this one project is going to pay for this
additional bonding authority. And that’s the connection. This developer decided to go forward with the
School Street Housing, based upon the City’s investment in the Performing Arts Center.

Chairman Dowd

All set, Alderman Cleaver?

Alderman Cleaver

Well put another way, | am in full support of the Performing Arts Center, full support. And | believe it’s
going to be invaluable to Nashua and Nashua residents. | fully support that project. | have very serious
questions, however, about School Street and | don’t think they should be combined for those reasons.
They are very different as | say and they are very different ideas and concept that have nothing to do with
each other. | understand what you said as far as financing and public support and private financing and
attracting businesses and so and so forth. But to me they are very, very different and should be
considered separately.

Chairman Dowd

OK are there any other Aldermen that have any questions for any of the presenters? Hearing none....
President Wilshire

Alderman Clemons.

Alderman Clemons

Mr. Chairman?

Chairman Dowd

OK you’ve got to jump in fast, Alderman Clemons.

Alderman Clemons

Thank you. My question is related to the bond payments and | wanted to make sure that this was clear and
understood. The bond payments for both projects - let me ask this question is a very specific way. How

Special Board of Aldermen 09-28-2020 Page 17

many existing Nashua taxpayers will be paying for this project? Can anyone answer that question? How
many existing Nashua taxpayers will be paying for this bond?

Director Cummings

If | may Mr. Chairman, if | am understanding the question correctly how many existing Nashua taxpayers
would be paying for the $5.5 bond, the TIF bond, the answer is none of the existing Nashua residents will
be paying for it. It will be solely supported by the future tax dollars of the School Street Development.
Alderman Clemons

Thank you.

Chairman Dowd

OK, all set Alderman Clemons? Alright, Alderman Lu did you have a follow up or is it something that would
wait for the Budget Meeting. We can’t hear you. It says your phone is on mute.

(Technical issues)

Alderwoman Lu

Oh, can you hear me now?

Chairman Dowd

| can hear you, yes.

Alderwoman Lu

Well that question, | mean you don’t really know. | mean how can you answer that question as “none of
them”. Because people that will be paying for the bond are people that own the property going forward.
They may be the same people, they may not. But how can you say, no one, none of the current owners
will. So to me that answer doesn’t make sense, so could you help me understand it?

Chairman Dowd

Director Cummings?

Director Cummings

Yeah if | may, Mr. Chairman, | think the question specifically was “existing residents/existing taxpayers”
and so that’s one. And then two, the whole purpose of a TIF is to be able to isolate the expenses of a
certain capital project, typically. And be able to segregate it and then use the revenue stream available,
typically a future project, that allows for an increment to be created to then be dedicated to pay for said
expense which means that the project itself or the development itself or the property itself that is subject to
the TIF would then be able to finance the bond that’s authorized.

Alderwoman Lu

Can | follow up?

Board of Aldermen Page 16
December 13, 2016

NEW BUSINESS — RESOLUTIONS

R-16-083
Endorsers: Mayor Jim Donchess
Alderman-at-Large Lori Wilshire
Alderman Richard A. Dowd
Alderman June M. Caron
Alderman Ken Siegel
Alderwoman Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja
Alderman-at-Large Michael B. O’Brien, Sr.
Alderman Tom Lopez
Alderman Don LeBrun
RELATIVE TO THE ACCEPTANCE AND APPROPRIATION OF $58,000 FROM THE STATE
OF NEW HAMPSHIRE INTO POLICE GRANT ACTIVITY “FY2017 VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMEN GRANT PROGRAM” AND TO AUTHORIZE THE TRANSFER OF $59,533
Given its first reading; assigned to the HUMAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE by President McCarthy

R-16-084
Endorser. Alderman David Schoneman
Alderman Richard A. Dowd
Alderwoman Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja
Alderman Sean M. McGuinness
Alderman Don LeBrun
Alderman Tom Lopez
Alderman-at-Large Brian S. McCarthy
AUTHORIZING A TWENTY YEAR EXTENSION (FROM 2047 TO 2067) OF THE MASTER LEASE
TO THE NASHUA AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Given its first reading; assigned to the FINANCE COMMITTEE by President McCarthy

NEW BUSINESS — ORDINANCES

O-16-027
Endorser: Alderman Don LeBrun
AUTHORIZING A STOP SIGN ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF TACOMA CIRCLE AT ITS
INTERSECTION WITH OLYMPIA CIRCLE

Given its first reading; assigned to the COMMITTEE ON INFRASTRUCTURE by President McCarthy

PERIOD FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. Fred Teeboom, 24 Cheyenne Drive

| stand corrected regarding the public comment because it does say you can only address resolutions and
ordinances but that was a change.

Let’s talk about the cost of charter schools compared to the cost of the Nashua School District. | mentioned
the $86.5 million contract which you just adopted and represents about $1,000 for every citizen in Nashua.
That took about three pages of discussion at the Budget Review Committee meeting. Compare that with the
$90,000 item; a tax offset that doesn’t appear in the budget and represents $1.00 for every citizen and it took
nine pages of discussion. Alderman Siegel mentioned that there was a lot of rambling going on and if you look
at pages 18, 19 and 20 that Alderman Siegel was doing most of the rambling. The teachers at the charter
schools get paid $40,000 per year and that’s the maximum. Teachers in the Nashua School District make
$62,000 per year as their base pay, loaded it’s $88,000 per year. That is a lot more than the charter schools
and yet they produce a superior product. The Academy of Science and Design is rated number one in the
entire state and forty in the U.S.A. During the Budget Review Committee meeting Alderman Schoneman

AGENDA MEETING OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN FEBRUARY 10, 2016

1.

2.

3.

&

on

10.

11.

12.

13.

PRESIDENT BRIAN S. MCCARTHY CALLS ASSEMBLY TO ORDER

PRAYER OFFERED BY CITY CLERK PATRICIA PIECUCH

PLEDGE TO THE FLAG LED BY ALDERMAN-AT-LARGE DAVID W. DEANE
ROLL CALL

REMARKS BY THE MAYOR

RESPONSE TO REMARKS OF THE MAYOR

RECOGNITIONS

READING OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS

Board of AIDGrmen......... 00. ccccccccseeceereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaeeeeeeeeeeeneeanees 01/26/16
COMMUNICATIONS

From: David G. Fredette, Treasurer/Tax Collector

Re: Purchase replacement for the 2003 Dodge Caravan Capital Equipment Reserve

Fund (CERF)

From: Stephen M. Bennett, Esq., Corporation Counsel
Re: Nashua Collegiate Baseball, Inc.

From: Arthur L. Barrett, Jr., Chairman
Re: Request for Joint Convention with the Board of Library Trustees

PERIOD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT RELATIVE TO ITEMS EXPECTED TO BE ACTED
UPON THIS EVENING

PETITIONS
NOMINATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND ELECTIONS
Appointment by the Mayor

REPORTS OF COMMITTEE

Finance COMMIItCE......... cece cece cece cease ee ee eeeeeeceeeeseaaseeeeeeeeeeeeaanees 02/03/16
Personnel/Administrative Affairs Committee 0.0.0.0... cccccccccee eee 02/01/16
Planning & Economic Development Commiittee................. eee 01/21/16
Planning & Economic Development Commiittee................. eee 02/02/16

WRITTEN REPORTS FROM LIAISONS

14. CONFIRMATION OF MAYOR'S APPOINTMENTS

Business & Industrial Development Authority

Lydia J. Foley (New Appointment) Term to Expire: September 13, 2017
2 Bruce Street

Nashua, NH 03064

Special Board of Aldermen 09-28-2020 Page 18

Chairman Dowd
Follow up, Alderman Lu?
Alderwoman Lu

Well sure but there will be taxpayers that are paying those taxes right? And they are not necessarily going
to be different taxpayers than exist today. So | don’t understand how you say, how you gave that answer
that no current taxpayers will be paying towards the TIF.

Chairman Dowd

| think it’s clearer if you look at it as current properties. The properties that are being built will be the ones
paying. Yes somebody from Nashua that owns another property could move in there, but those properties
don’t exist yet to be taxed. And those properties in the School Street Apartments, now when they are
taxed will be paying for the TIF, not any other locations in Nashua that are current taxpayers.

Alderwoman Lu
Follow up please?
Chairman Dowd
Follow up.
Alderwoman Lu

Well | know one parking lot is going to be developed. But hypothetically there will be captured value in the
other parcels in the TIF District that will also be earmarked for the payment of bonds. So it doesn’t seem
like we are talking about the same thing. I’m not only talking about School Street; there are other properties
in the TIF proposal which any appreciation that happens becomes earmarked for development within that
district. So unless there’s a change — and those are mostly, many of them are buildings that already exist.
There are improvements on the parcels so most of them currently have owners and we don’t know that the
owners are going to change. So how can you say that none of those owner's tax payments will go towards
the bond payments.

Chairman Dowd

Director Cummings?

Director Cummings

Yeah thank you. And | try really hard not to answer hypothetical questions or scenarios because you can
kind of go own a rabbit hole. But! want to try to answer the question here. So there’s two specific reasons
why. One, there’s no new value being created in the other properties most of them are built out, the
improvements are there so you are not going to really see any incremental change in their properties so
that’s why | am saying | am segregating it to the School Street side itself. And then in addition to that and
we started on this comment earlier, | started making this point earlier, which is any excess funds are going
to get reverted back to the General Fund in the TIF. So that’s something that we, you know, | want to
make clear is what we are trying to do here.

Alderwoman Lu

Follow up?

Special Board of Aldermen 09-28-2020 Page 19

Chairman Dowd

Certainly.

Alderman Lopez

Mr. Chair can | raise a point of order here, please. We are well down a rabbit hole. This is a public
hearing. Can we let the public speak?

Chairman Dowd

Yeah, | think these questions probably ought to be better handled when we get to the Budget meeting
where we are actually talking about the legislation. Usually we just let the Aldermen ask questions to
clarify something the presenters said. We don’t want to get into too much of a debate or get into too much
detail. This is a public hearing and we are looking for public testimony. So I'd like to proceed with that, if
there are no objections.

Alderman Lopez

Thank you.
Chairman Dowd

So now again the public hearing is on R-20-071, Authoring the Mayor and the City Treasurer to issue
bonds not to exceed the amount of $8 million dollars for two construction projects consisting of a publicly
accessible ground level parking garage, $2,500,000.00 and additional funding for the proposed Performing
Arts Center, $5,500,000.00. | will now take testimony of favor and | ask you to try and limit your comments
to three minutes. If it gets over three minutes, when it gets to five minutes, | will definitely move on to
someone else because we have 52 people on tonight and we do have to get through two of these public
hearings.

So would any member of the public like to speak in favor of R-20-071?
TESTIMONY IN FAVOR

Brian Grip Yes, Mr. Chairman, can you hear me ok? My name is Brian Grip and | am resident with my wife
at Ledgewood Hills, (inaudible) We are constituents of Alderman Jette and neighbors and really pleased
and proud to be here to speak in favor of this project. VWe’ve been residents of Nashua for 4 years; we
actually moved here from Bow, New Hampshire where we lived for 25 years and raised our family. | will
tell you that | started my career here in downtown Nashua in 1982. It is really exciting and | will speak for
my wife, we really are very excited about what we see, the energy going into downtown Nashua right now.

| will tell you that | work for Bank of America and | was really pleased to have an opportunity to meet some
of you at a reception that | know the Chamber held to help our company which | am very proud of
announce that $250,000.00 grant to this project. And | will tell you the years that | worked for the company
here in New Hampshire that is one of the largest single commitments that the foundation has made here in
New Hampshire. So our roots for the company are here in Nashua. Many of you recall Indian Head Bank
and our roots date back in New Hampshire to Indian Head Bank. And we have three banking center
offices and employees here in Nashua. In fact, one of them is right in the downtown as | think many of you
know which is just right down the street from the future Performing Arts Center.

So we are really, really pleased to be part of this. We are proud of it. | also just want to give credit to the
Mayor for his leadership and Tim and frankly all the volunteers that are working on this. It has taken a lot
of vision. And also, just briefly just mention to all of you as you are working through these issues and

Special Board of Aldermen 09-28-2020 Page 20

asking all of these appropriate questions. | had the good fortune of serving on the Board of Trustees at the
Capital Center for the Arts in Concord, New Hampshire back in 2001 to 2007 period, actually 2 consecutive
3 year terms. | will just say to all of you having been part of that amazing organization, if any of you have
had an opportunity to be in Concord recently and seen what has happened to downtown, it is just an
amazing story. And | can remember being part of that board and hearing conversations about what
needed to happen to the Capitol Center for the Arts.

The investments that were happening a lot of the same questions frankly that | am hearing here with this
project and looking today what has become a beautiful story in Concord. So just to assure all of you by the
way that it has been an amazing place; center for not just businesses but it is education leaders, non-
profits leaders have been part of that board but also part of being able to take advantage of that amazing
facility in Concord. So | see a lot of the same energy going into this project in Nashua and | just wanted to
be able to take a moment personally on behalf of our family, just to thank all of you that have been working
so hard on it. We see a lot of energy. | happened to find and I’ll close with this, | happened to find an
article that was in Money Magazine this goes back to 2018 | believe but it really speaks very, very
powerfully for the decisions that you are being asked to make and why you are making them, right? But
this article came out, | think it was in December of ’82 that said and | am quoting, Nashua is the best place
to live in New Hampshire according to a new survey, Money Magazine said it is selecting the charming
Gate City for the top spot due to it’s up and coming downtown recreation options and proximity to Boston.
So all of that is certainly playing out right now and | am certainly here to speak personally. But | can just
say also working for a company that has made what | think is the lead commitment, we are really proud of
what is happening here and we support Nashua and we wish you all good luck in making this really
important decision. So thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman Dowd
So anyone else that would like to speak in favor? Yes, certainly Mike.

Mike Apfelberg Yes, Alderman Dowd, I’d like to speak in favor if that’s ok. Hi, Mike Apfelberg, I’m the
president of the United Way of Greater Nashua. You know we are not an arts organization so you might
think it odd that somebody from the social service, representing a social services agency would speak in
favor of an arts project. However, as we did three years ago when the project was first conceptualized, I’d
like to reinforce that we are strongly in favor of this project. You know, the study by Americans for the Arts
shows that the arts have a 7 to 1 return on investment in any community. Now, 7 to 1 is a big number and
of course that’s an average and a generalization but what we do know is that arts have a strong positive
return on investment. And that return in our community comes in the form of improved property values,
increased tax revenues, a downtown that’s more vibrant, vitality in the community and just a general
improvement of the qualify of life for our community.

So you know | am just going to reinforce many of the comments that Brian made previously. We believe
that the rising tide really does raise all boats. And in our community, we'd really like to see this arts center
come to fruition because it will ultimately benefit all of us and we appreciate that. And thanks again to the
Capital Committee in particular. When this project was first conceptualized, we were a little concerned
about what it meant to build a $4 million dollar Capital Campaign in the middle of a number of a number of
other very significant projects in the social services. But it does appear that they have been able to do their
work without negatively affecting some of the other projects in place and we appreciate that as well. That’s
all | have to say and thank you so much. We hope you support this.

Chairman Dowd
Thank you. | see Kate Luczko.

Kate Luczko Thank you. Good evening everyone, I’m Kate Luczko, I’m the President and CEO of the
Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce located at 4 Water Street in Nashua. I’m here tonight on behalf of

Special Board of Aldermen 09-28-2020 Page 21

the Chamber, our Board, and our Membership to speak in support of the Performing Arts Center and the
economic impact it will have on the greater Nashua Community. Using methodology from the Americans
for the Arts Economic Impact Studies, by year three, the Performing Arts Center will generate over $3.5
million dollars in annual spending and create jobs. This projected economic activity can be measured and
will create 135 direct and 113 indirect jobs.

It will also increase vibrancy in Nashua’s downtown by decreasing Main Street vacancy rates by at least
20%; attracting 70,000 audience members to downtown by year three of operations and increasing
investment in upgrades by downtown property owners, worth at least $10 million dollars by year five of
operations. In addition it will provide a tool for employee recruitment and retention for regional employers.
Having had a previous role running Stay, Work, Play New Hampshire encouraging 20 and 30-year old’s to
stay in, come to or come back to New Hampshire and working with businesses statewide. And now in my
role with the chamber, one of the things | heard then and continue to hear most often is the need to attract
and retain talent in our State. And especially when it comes to a younger generation of up and coming
leaders, quality of life, culture and community investment all rank very high and all of these are
components of the Performing Arts Center.

So the Chamber and our Board on behalf of our membership stand in support of the Performing Arts
Center. And thank you for your time and thanks to everyone who has contributed to the project thus far.

Chairman Dowd

Thank you. | have someone named James?

James Rafferty Jim Rafferty from the River Casino and Sports Bar.
Chairman Dowd

Hey Jim, how are you doing?

Mr. Rafferty Good Alderman, thank you very much for the time, I’ll be short. | got involved with this project
because my concerns over how the School Street Building would harm our current parking allotment down
on the street, my concerns were shared with the Lafayette Club and the Polish American Club and Harbor
Homes and East Hardware. I’m not speaking for them tonight, but they all shared the concern that taking
those 88 spots out would seriously affect the ability to compete. We met with the Mayor several times, Tim
Cummings, Aldermen — so many of you were very, very helpful. When we came forward with this proposal
to lift the building and change the allocation rather than losing 88 spots that we would have 53 spots
underneath the building, which we believe is a serious step forward and we really appreciate the efforts of
the City and of the Aldermen to help us. The expansion of the TIF Zone into embracing the Art Center was
a natural | think. We are, certainly my business that | can speak for, is in downtown Nashua because we
believe in the Arts Center. We believe in the ability of these things to work together to make it a more
powerful customer attraction. So we are all in favor of the TIF and | wanted to come here and | appreciate
the time to express that. Thank you.

Chairman Dowd

Thank you very much. | do not see anybody else with their hand up, is there any other member of the
public who wishes to speak in favor.

Fred Teeboom | would like to speak.
Chairman Dowd

Mr. Teeboom, glad to see you.

Special Board of Aldermen 09-28-2020 Page 22

Mr. Teeboom | am glad you got control over this public meeting. | thought you had lost it. My name is
Fred Teeboom and | reside at 24 Cheyenne Drive. I'd like to speak in favor of R-20-071 especially,
specifically the $5.5 million dollar additional funding for the Performance Arts Center. As many of you
know, | was very much against the original Performance Arts Center proposed by the Webb Study for
many reasons not the least the deathtrap design of placing the Performance Theater on the second floor of
the building. Furthermore, the original estimate for the project included an unsubstantiated low ball building
construction cost estimate of $11.5 million dollars that ignored totally the detailed professional estimate by
Fennesy Consulting who was hired specifically to conduct a Webb study cost estimate and that came to
$16.4 million dollars. In other words the PAC, the project was underfunded by $5 million dollars at the very
beginning. Then some wonderful things happened. The City contracted with an outstanding New England
Architectural Firm, ICON Architects. ICON immediately dispensed the deathtrap second floor design
concept and through many iterations working productively, with the PAC steering committee, | attended a
number of those meetings, came up with an exciting and very versatile design.

The City also contracted with Spectacle Management an experienced theater manager who agreed to
operate the PAC for $1.00 a year, thus eliminating the need for $4 million dollar endowment fund to
subsidize operations. There was one condition that the seating capacity of the theater be increased from
the 550 seats in the Webb Study to 750 seats to make the PAC economically viable for the operator. The
total project as presented tonight now stands at $25 million dollars. There is $4 million dollars anticipated
from tax credits and private donations and with the City’s original $15.5 million dollar funding this project is
still $5.5 million dollars short., nearly equal the $5 million dollar deficit of the original budget that | earlier
mentioned. Given the current detailed design stage, construction can and should be contracted for
guaranteed maximum price that the construction manager, Harvey Construction, a very competent
organization.

One final note that | can make, | am now an elderly citizen and speaking for the seniors. We need a
comfortable and convenient place to go. We do not go to discos or we don’t go to many private parties to
meet and mingle, and we pay a lot of taxes. With its roof top terrace and variable configuration from the
intimate black box theater to 750 seat grand theater to a 1,000 standing room concerts, to private
banquets, with close parking access, this venue now designed and proposed to be constructed is ideal for
us seniors. And | intend to purchase a season pass. | therefore urge you to adopt R-20-071. Thank you.

Chairman Dowd
Thank you, Mr. Teeboom. | have Lisa Work? Lisa?

Lisa Bissonnette Thank you. My name is Lisa Bissonnette | work at 30 Temple Street in Nashua, New
Hampshire for a real estate development company. | am also the Chair of City Arts Nashua which is an arts
non-profit here in Nashua. | wanted to speak in favor of the issue before you this evening. We have been
enthusiastic supporters of the project from the very beginning and have followed all of the progress that Mr.
Teeboom just outlined with interest and with support. We would love to just commend the City of Nashua,
the various vendors and consultants that have partnered with Nashua and most especially the Capital
Campaign Committee and all of those volunteers who are working so hard to raise the money and who
have had tremendous success in doing so, in pretty difficult circumstances, especially now.

We totally understand how TIF Increment Financing works. We have seen it successfully used many other
places and honestly have wondered why it hasn’t been more utilized in downtown Nashua. So it’s great to
see that creativity and that idea come forward. | love to see that, Tim — thank you for suggesting that. And
we really would love to see that happen. We are eager to roll up our sleeves and get it done and | am
looking forward to buying a season pass as well. Thank you.

Chairman Dowd

Thank you. OK | have Rich Lannan.

Special Board of Aldermen 09-28-2020 Page 23

Rich Lannan Yes Chair | have a question if it is ok. | received an e-mail just as the meeting started from a
Nashua resident that was planning on speaking. It’s short if it is OK to read his e-mail into the meeting
minutes.

Chairman Dowd
Sure, you want to give his name and address.

Rich Lannan Sure | will do that, that’s how he started it, so he made it very clear, he may have e-mailed it
to the Board of Aldermen because it does say:

“Dear Board of Aldermen, my name is Philip Scontsas. | live at 14 Ashland Street Nashua and operate
Scontsas Fine Jewelry and Home Décor located at 169 to 173 Main Street in Nashua, established in 1912.
| am writing this letter regarding your vote for the additional funding and support of this very important
project for this City. As | have stated before, the Performing Arts Center will not only help rejuvenate and
maintain the vitality of our main corridor, it will help our City as a whole. Careful planning and the
successful fundraising efforts are proof that this project is well on its way to being the success we all know
it will be. Through the years, numerous consultants have come up with master plans for the City of
Nashua, each and every one of them a performing arts center has been strongly recommended as a key
component. We are at the cusp and with your vote, you will allow this to happen; be the Founding Fathers
who made the project a reality. Nashua and the citizens for generations to come will thank you. Thank you
for your time. Sincerely, Philip Scontsas.”

Thank you.

Chairman Dowd

Ok thank you. Judy Carlson, | see your hand up, your real hand.
Judy Carlson Oh | forgot, yeah | was supposed to do my other hand.
Chairman Dowd

Yeah I’m looking at the list for other names, but go ahead.

Ms. Carlson Yeah sorry about that. My name is Judith Carlson and | live at 15 Manchester Street. I’ve
been a resident of Nashua since 1973. | raised my daughter here and I’ve been very active in the arts for
the last 10 years after retiring from working for a large computer company in advertising and public
relations. What I'd like to say is | am on the Arts Commission and last year and the year before, in
preparation for the Performing Arts Center and had some baseline data, we worked along with some of the
other arts associations in the City to do an economic impact study in the America for the Arts both Mike
and Kate have mentioned, Americans for the Arts. They do all sorts of data on it and every five years do a
survey of the economic impact of the cities that participate. And Nashua has never participated in the past.
We got the results back and Nashua’s economic impact of total expenditures both by the non-profit arts
organizations and its audiences in Nashua came in at just a little over $11,000,000.00, 11,000,299.00.
Now compare that to Concord where they have both the Capitol Center for the Arts and the Red River
Theater, they came in at $31,185,366.00. You can see Portsmouth also has a lot of people who come
there because of tourism, they came in at $58,041,659.00. They also have two Performing Arts Centers
there.

So it is really quite evident by data that a performing arts center does make a huge economic impact on the
communities where they exist. I’d also like to just read a couple other statistics from American for the Arts
on the surveys they do. 87% of Americans believe the arts and culture are important to the quality of life.
82% of Americans believe the arts and culture are important to local businesses and the economy. 73%