Board of Aldermen 10-13-2020 Page 11
The next thing that is really exciting to share is that the Nashua Arts Commission has just completed an
economic study with American for the Arts taking a look at the economic impact in the Nashua Region.
That study was able to show that the Nashua Region Industry brought in $11.3 million dollars within that
year that studied. The same study was actually completed in Concord, New Hampshire a sister study. It is
also by the American for the Arts. It is used to evaluate the arts and economic prosperity of any given City.
And | think a quick comparison of the result would be very helpful and telling and to show hopefully all of
the Aldermen the tremendous economic impact and opportunity that was there. In Concord, the total local
non-profit and artistic cultural economic activity was $31.2 million dollars. And as a result of that study they
saw that number, they reached that $31.2, they say that number as a result of an increase of $13.5 million
dollars in just five years. That’s a potential 43% increase in economic activity.
What's very exciting is that if we parallel that to Nashua, if we are so fortunate to have similar results with
our number being $11.3, that could potentially increase our economic activity in the area by $4.86 million
dollars in a matter of five years and potentially could be more than that considering the size of the venue
that we are looking to build is significantly larger and has a little bit of a larger capacity to it, bringing more
people to the downtown area.
As a member of the Nashua Arts Commission, what is further exciting is that we do have an intention to
hopefully repeat that study again in the future. So that would also give us the ability to measure that impact
assuming the project moves forward and is completed. So that way we would be able to see and measure
the impact within a few years of the Performing Arts Center being open. And | think that having that
measurable, that ability to create that type of measurement and to have access to that type of data will
hopefully reaffirm the decision to move forward with the project today at its new budget point. So with that
being said, | ask all of the Aldermen to please consider voting in favor of all of the Resolutions that are
related to moving the Nashua Performing Arts Center Project forward. Thank you.
President Wilshire
Thank you. Next we have Faustin; Faustin if you could give your name and address for the record?
Faustin Greetings everybody, my name is Faustin. | live in the Nashua Bronstein building. | hope
everyone can hear me. All | needed to say they are about to switch this building and we have got to move.
So | have to give a little story about my parents. My dad he came from a place named Congo, tough place
they used to have wars and stuff; they used to be moving all kinds of places. And they switched places and
kids would have to switch schools and all that stuff. And me hearing that we have to move to a different
place that we are, it’s a whole different thing. Bob Keating from GSOP came and told us that they are
about to building some buildings, School Street Flats. And we were talking about it and we said it would be
a good thing if we could move close to there, if those buildings are done, those who want to move from
here to there it would be a great idea. So | am asking the Aldermen if they could make that happen
because | am speaking on behalf of my family and all the people that live over here, they all signed a
petition. The petition was to say that we all want to move close to hear and we heard about the School
Street Flats and everybody was so glad that they could (inaudible) and move over there, of course if the
Mayor and Aldermen agrees to the idea, that would be very helpful. And | think a good thing to think about
(audio cuts out) you know because given the story of my dad, this idea of moving it’s really hard, you know.
So Basically | was asking if you understand the petition and try to help us. That’s basically all. Thanks for
listening.
President Wilshire
Thank you. Next | have Brian Grip.
Brian Grip Yes hello, Madam Chair, it’s an honor to be with all of you, it’s Brian Grip, Ledgewood Hills
Drive, Ward 5, Nashua. So | had an opportunity to speak at the Budget Committee Meeting so | will be
very brief. | primarily wanted to again just acknowledge to all of you, we, my wife and | Kelly live here and
we started our careers here in the 1980’s and had an opportunity to work in downtown Nashua, both of us
