“Do you have anything for helping employees pay off student loans? It's a real draw for recruitment,” said Kuster. She was speaking with Kim Vacca, director of Red River Charitable Foundation.

Jon Nicholas replied, “We are doing it now.” Red River has scholarships and loan reimbursement programs for its employees.

The IT company perched on the bank of the Sugar River in a former mill building has offices across the country, from Sacramento to Austin to West Virgina. Red River was founded in Hanover over 20 years ago.

Kuster wanted to talk about workforce development. “Where are your new people coming from? Are you finding the people you need?”

“We need to do a better job marketing,” said Nicholas. “We need to let people know you can start your career here; you don't have to have five years' experience.”

Red River runs a sales course at Keene State College, which Kuster applauded.

“I did a workforce roundtable in Keene,” she said. “The companies are not doing outreach on campus; they shrug their shoulders like they're used to that whole class graduating and leaving. But why did these students choose New Hampshire? They like it here; they like the lifestyle. You'd do better to focus on recruiting people who are already here.”

The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), which focuses on economic development of the region along the Canadian border, has grants to offer for economic development in rural communities.

Josh Bushueff of the Claremont Makerspace said NBRC helped the makerspace get going. Another source of grant funding for economic development is the United States Department of Agriculture. Kuster offered to help Red River find grant funding through these two entities.