CONCORD — A bill before the Legislature would designate Coos County as a distressed place-based economy, a move that sponsor state Sen. David Rochefort (R-Littleton) hopes will help the county recover from the loss of the paper industry and other large employers over the past 25 years.
The bill — Senate Bill 180 — has passed the Senate and had a hearing last week before the House Committee on Executive Department and Administration. Testimony before the committee favored the designation, but concerns were raised about the requirement that state agencies must consult with the Coos County Commission before making regulatory decisions that affect the county.
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