At its annual meeting Nov. 9 at the Indian Head Resort, the Franconia Notch Regional Chamber of Commerce presented its Northern Star Award to Taylor Caswell of Littleton, commissioner of the Department of Business and Economic Affairs.
The Northern Star Award honors an individual, business, or organization that has made a lasting and significant contribution to the North Country, in promoting economic development, its natural resources, quality of life fostering a climate in which commerce, recreation, and tourism flourish.
In his role as commissioner and as a resident of the North Country, Caswell focuses on efforts such as workforce recruitment to meet the labor needs of New Hampshire's businesses, while simultaneously revitalizing communities, work that has a particularly strong and positive impact on communities and employers throughout the North Country.
In accepting the award, Caswell thanked numerous North Country business leaders who are the driving force of the region's growing economic success, including Bob Chapman of Groveton; Dave Harkless of Littleton; Kathie Cote of Sugar Hill; Greg Eastman of Littleton, and Stephen Capone of Berlin.
This year’s presentation to Caswell is the second year in a row that BEA staff received Northern Star award. Last year, BEA’s longtime North Country business representative and former Colebrook business owner Benoit Lamontagne was the recipient.