City of Manchester Loan Fund Announces New Members

Manchester -The City of Manchester’s Revolving Loan Fund announces the addition of three new members to the Loan Review Committee : Ovide Lamontagne , an Attorney with D e vine Millimet ; Stephen Patterson , an attorney with Wiggin and Nourie, P.A. ; and Michael Simoneau , Vice President of Commercial Lending at Hampshire First Bank. “The City of Manchester Economic Development Office is pleased to have the wide range of talent and expertise these three new members bring to the Committee” s aid Glen Ohlund, Development Coordinator at the City of Manchester Economic Development Office and manager of the Revolving Loan Fund.

The revolving loan fund was established by the City of Manchester in 1996, using allocations of Community Development Block Grant funds and repayments from existing loans and two loans made by the former Greater Manchester Development Corporation. A total of 13 firms have been assisted by the revolving loan fund. The 13 firms have borrowed a total of $921,000 and created 161 new jobs in Manchester since the program’s inception.

The City of Manchester revolving loan fund makes loans for working capital and fixed asset acquisition to existing or relocating Manchester businesses that will create new jobs. These funds are not a substitute for traditional financing sources. The revolving loan fund is one of several business financing programs offered by the City of Manchester. The Economic Development Office provides information and referrals for other business development incentives offered by the City, State of New Hampshire, and a variety of Federal agencies. For more information, contact the Manchester Economic Development Office at 624-6505.

Congresswoman Shea-Porter to Host Middle Class Forum Wednesday

Manchester, New Hampshire – Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter will host a Middle Class Forum on Wednesday, July 2^nd in Manchester.  Carol will discuss new laws which affect average families and introduce experts who can provide advice on how best to reduce energy bills, find help with your mortgage, and save money on food and recreation. 

Logistics:

What:   Middle Class Forum

When:   Wednesday, July 2^nd
        6:00 P.M.

Where: UNH Manchester Auditorium
         400 Commercial Street
         Manchester, NH 03101

Participants

• Tom Belair: Energy Efficiency Services
• Patricia Quinn: Executive Director, Amtrak Downeaster
• Tara Payne: Director of the Center for College Planning, New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation (NHHEAF)
• Leanne Topolosky: Manager of Portsmouth office, New Hampshire Employment Security
• Richard Arcand: Informational Representative, New Hampshire Banking Department
• Andy Cadorette: Education Coordinator, New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority (NHHFA)
• Daphne Feeney: Rural Development Specialist, United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development
• Richard Arcand: Informational Representative, New Hampshire Banking Department
• Becky Palmer: Director of Education, Consumer Credit Counseling NH/VT
• Katrina Lockwood: Field Coordinator, New Hampshire Healthy Kids
• Nancy Sevigny: Information and Referral Specialist from the Manchester Office, ServiceLink Resource Center
  

DNC - John McCain and Law Enforcement

Washington, DC--When John McCain speaks to the National Sheriffs Association in Indiana today he will no doubt try to convince voters that he would give their sheriffs and local law enforcement officers the tools and resources they need to keep our communities safe.  But that directly conflicts with Senator McCain's promise to pay for his decision to make the Bush tax cuts he once opposed permanent by vetoing every single spending bill that includes earmarks, the very legislative vehicle Congress often uses to fund critical law enforcement programs.  According to a report by the Congressional Research Service, the majority of earmarks for the Department of Justice fund law enforcement programs like the COPS program.  Some of these earmarks went to critical law enforcement programs in Indiana, like gang violence prevention in South Bend, domestic violence response in Indianapolis, and equipment modernization for the Sheriffs Office in Indianapolis as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Program.

When Senator McCain speaks to the Sheriffs today, it's time for some straight talk on his real priorities for America's future.
 
LAW ENFORCEMENT EARMARKS IN INDIANA

•$1,500,000.00 In The FY1999 Commerce/State/Justice Appropriations Bill: Indianapolis sheriff's office equipment modernization [COPS - Violent Crime Reduction Program] (Department of Justice) [Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW.org) Pigbooks, FY95-FY07]

•$1,500,000.00 In The FY2001 Commerce/State/Justice Appropriations Bill: Indianapolis Automated Fingerprint Identification System (Crime Identification Technology Act Program) [Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW.org) Pigbooks, FY95-FY07]

•$150,000.00 In The FY2002 Commerce/State/Justice Appropriations Bill: For the Indianapolis Comprehensive Domestic Violence Response Program (Edward Byrne Grants to States - Office of Justice Programs) [Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW.org) Pigbooks, FY95-FY07]

•$100,000.00 In The FY2005 Commerce/State/Justice Appropriations Bill: City of South Bend Youth Gang Violence Prevention Initiative (Discretionary Grants - Juvenile Justice Programs) [Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW.org) Pigbooks, FY95-FY07]

•$25,000.00 In The FY2006 Commerce/State/Justice Appropriations Bill: Miami County, Sheriff's Department for a law enforcement initiative (Discretionary Grants - Juvenile Justice Programs) [Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW.org) Pigbooks, FY95-FY07]

Majority of DOJ Earmarks Fund Law Enforcement Programs. "Typically, the majority of earmarks within the Department of Justice involve State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance, Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), and the juvenile discretionary grants." [CRS Report, 1/26/06]

COPS PROGRAM IN INDIANA:

Indiana Law Enforcement Agencies Have Received Over $120 Million In COPS Funding.  As of March of 2006, law enforcement agencies in Indiana had received over $120 million in funding from COPS grants. ["COPS Quick Facts For The State of Indiana," http://www.cops.usdoj.gov , 3/3/2006]
 
COPS Funding Has Lead To Hiring Of Over 1,500 new Police Officers In Indiana. As of March of 2006, "COPS grants have funded 1,581 additional police officers and sheriffs deputies to engage in community policing activities, including crime prevention, in Indiana." ["COPS Quick Facts For The State of Indiana," http://www.cops.usdoj.gov , 3/3/2006]
 
COPS Funding Has Aided Nearly 280 Indiana Law Enforcement Agencies.  As of March of 2006, "279 local and state law enforcement agencies in Indiana have directly benefited from funding made available through the COPS Office." ["COPS Quick Facts For The State of Indiana," http://www.cops.usdoj.gov , 3/3/2006]
 
Over $12 Million In COPS Funding Has Gone To Improving Safety In Indiana Schools. Over $12.5 million in COPS funding has gone to adding 103 officers to improve safety in Indiana's primary and secondary schools, as of March 2006. ["COPS Quick Facts For The State of Indiana," http://www.cops.usdoj.gov , 3/3/2006]
 
Over $20 Million Has Helped To Build Indiana's Crime-Fighting Technology.  As of March of 2006, over $20 million had been awarded to help Indiana's law enforcement agencies acquire "crime-fighting technologies." ["COPS Quick Facts For The State of Indiana," http://www.cops.usdoj.gov , 3/3/2006]

John McCain 2008 Opens New England Regional Headquarters

MANCHESTER, NH-- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today announced that the New England regional campaign headquarters opened in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Tuesday, July 1^st. 

Steiner For Congress - Statement on the GI Bill

It is not Everything your Father/Mother Had Post WWII, But it Provides Improved Benefits

Candidate for the 2nd CD, Jim Steiner comments on the new G.I. Bill signed into law in the last 24 hours:

"Veterans across the country may cheer that Congress finally passed, and the President signed into law, the new G.I. Bill.  Key components include the opportunity for veterans to pass unneeded benefits to family members, a long period for use after serving the country and, perhaps most key, payment of tuition, a book stipend and a housing stipend not seen since the post WWII G.I. Bill."  Statistically, the WWII G.I. Bill paid back three to four dollars for every dollar paid out as a benefit.  It provided deserving veterans the chance to improve their edication.  The just-passed G.I. Bill comes closer than any previous veterans benefit since WWII.  It is time."