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Berlin’s 21/21 Initiative
When considering this initiative, it’s good to remind ourselves that tourism is the State’s second largest economic sector and that tourism accounts for about 20% of Coos County’s economy but is only 4% of Berlin’s economic base. Being surrounded by tourism enhances efforts by Berlin to tap into this existing regional economic sector. It has also been demonstrated that, tourism becomes a vehicle that brings potential investors into a community. Company owners are first introduced to a community as tourists and if their experiences are positive, they often return bringing their companies. A State survey reports that 13% of all businesses who re-located to New Hampshire were a result of the owner/CEO first being a tourist. This is more
productive and successful than direct company recruitment.
The goal of the 21/21 Initiative is to transform the economic and social fabric of Berlin from that of a 20th century heavy manufacturing community, to that of a 21st century center of commerce based on unique outdoor recreational experiences in an urban setting. With the Androscoggin River in its downtown, Berlin is surrounded by the beauty of the White Mountains with Mount Forist as its signature icon. With several major ski areas within a 30 to 45 minute drive, the White Mountain National Forest within its boundaries, hundreds of miles of snowmobile trails and the State ATV Park all near downtown Berlin, opportunities for outdoor recreation is the low hanging fruit for a new economy for the City. Where Berlin once stood as the economic center of the
region because of its paper mills, the City can once again regain its economic health and stature by reinventing itself as a user friendly, “place to go” outdoor recreation destination. Once the City begins to develop its new outdoor recreation infrastructure, the private sector will follow the lead and invest in the community. The results will be that Berlin will see its tax base grow and the new economy will provide jobs and economic opportunities for its citizens.
Berlin can become the premier outdoor recreation community in New Hampshire, with a focus on motor sports. Imagine creating a community where you can drive up to a municipal parking lot in a downtown/urban setting, rolling your ATV or snowmobile off your trailer, jumping on the machine, go around the block for a meal and then head-off to a trail or to the State Park. In time and when our tourism infrastructure is fully developed, the visitors will stay at our local hotels/motels/B&B’s for days and travel all over the North Country, without ever having to trailer their machines. This would be the type of positive experience that Roger Brooks talks about, something you can’t do at home or within 2 hours from
home and is memorable. Linking trails at Success with the existing trail systems as well as Jericho Mountain State Park, would provide hundreds of miles of riding opportunities with the unique experience of driving back to downtown restaurants, shops and other conveniences. This type of unique experience can only evolve in an urban setting where the existing infrastructure includes everything from churches to movie theaters to hospitals. Berlin is uniquely qualified to become the most popular outdoor motorsport recreational destination in New England. Our efforts should be tailored to the needs of the active generation and their families, who love the outdoors, but also want the convenience, comfort, safety and variety found only in an urban setting.
Berlin already has most of the infrastructure in place for this new economy, what it needs is a new vision of itself and a change of focus. Many of our existing businesses can modify and expand their operations to entice the new customer base, it’s everything from product line to operating hours. The 21/21 Initiative will be led by a new generation of local entrepreneurs who given the opportunity, will transform and revitalize the City from within. For its part, city government will facilitate the process by helping to remove barriers to the transformation and create incentives rewarding investments.
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